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John Howe was born in 1957 in Vancouver, Canada. In 1976, one year after leaving high school, he attended an American college near Strasbourg, France, to spend a year in Europe and learn some French. He then enrolled at the Ecole des Arts DÚcoratifs, where he remained for three years, before moving to Switzerland to work on an animated film - but became an illustrator. His early influences - as a 15 year-old, in fact - included Frazetta, whose book covers he enlarged, traced and copied. In Strasbourg he located the birthplace of illustrator Gustav Dore, whose engravings he had admired, and discovered the Hildebrandts’ Tolkien calendar imagery (and Tolkien’s own illustrations).
Europe also proved to be a major influence in his life, despite his being initially unmoved by the great museums of France, Italy and Spain. His later exploration (with a borrowed pass key) of Strasbourg cathedral led him to an appreciation of medieval art and architecture.  He has since also learned to love standing stones, Green Faces, Robin Hood, Terry Gilliam, Arthur, Merlin, anything medieval, Rackham, old stones and roots, Old Man Druid Oaks, Russell Hoban, Gaudi, Guimard and lots more besides...John Howe now lives and works in NeuchÅtel, Switzerland.
Anadune

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Angband

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The Wrath of Smaug

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Bagend

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Barad-dur

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Battle of Gondolin

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Black Rider

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Bridge of Khazad-dum

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Descent To Rivendell

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Edoras

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Fall of Gondolin

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The Fords of Bruinen

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Galadriel's Mirror

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Gandalf

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Gandalf in Hobbiton

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Gawain

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Glorund

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The Great Goblin

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The Guarded City

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Guarding Minas Tirith

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Hordes of Mordor

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Melkor & Ungoliant

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Minas Tirith

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Morgoth

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Mûmak

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Nazgul & Eowyn

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Nienor

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The Night Door

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Old Man Willow

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Shelob & Sam

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Smaug

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The Balrog

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The Company

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The Ravens

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Treebeard

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Ulmo of the Sea

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Unexpected Party

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Ungoliant

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Uruk-hai

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White Tower

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