Puzzle: Arwen's Choice

by Ted Nasmith

Hardcover

Published January 1, 1997

About the author

Ted Nasmith is a Canadian illustrator and artist, widely regarded—alongside John Howe and Alan Lee—as one of the most significant visual interpreters of J.R.R. Tolkien’s works. Born in Goderich, Ontario, and raised partly in Europe due to his father's military service, he developed a love for drawing at an early age. While studying architectural rendering, he was introduced to The Lord of the Rings, which deeply inspired his artistic direction. Nasmith began painting Tolkien-themed scenes, drawn to their mythic and nostalgic resonance. Encouraged by the Tolkien Society, he eventually saw his illustrations featured in the official Tolkien calendars, beginning in 1987. His landmark achievement came in 1998 with the illustrated edition of The Silmarillion. He also illustrated The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, and calendars for 2002–2004. Nasmith’s art is marked by realism and detail, blending architectural precision with imaginative landscapes. He continues to work as a freelance illustrator and renderer, living with his wife and three children in Toronto. He is a member of the Tolkien Society and the Mythopoeic Society.