PRESS RELEASE #30 - Renowned Fantasy Artist Alan Lee to be Special Guest

GLASGOW, Friday 18 March 2005

Alan Lee to be special Guest at Interaction – Oscar®-winning artist worked as conceptual artist on Lord of the Rings movie trilogy.

Fantasy artist Alan Lee, who won an Oscar for his work on The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King will be a special guest at Interaction, the 63^rd World Science Fiction Convention, which takes place in Glasgow this August. Mr Lee, who appears in cooperation with the Tolkien 2005 conference, will attend the convention on Saturday 6 August and Sunday 7 August.

“Alan Lee’s artwork has been associated with J.R.R. Tolkien for two decades, from his inspired illustrations for the centenary edition of the books to his acclaimed work on the movie trilogy,” remarked Interaction Co-Chair Colin Harris. “It is entirely appropriate therefore that we should invite him to be a special guest at Interaction in the same year that we celebrate the 50^th anniversary of the publication of the final volume of the trilogy. I would especially like to thank Harper Collins for their help in arranging Alan Lee's participation.”

A native of London, Alan Lee studied at the Ealing School of Art. After graduation he became a freelance illustrator doing mostly book covers. He came to greater public attention in 1978, however, when in collaboration with Brian Froud, he published Faeries. To celebrate the centenary of J.R.R. Tolkien’s birth, Harper Collins commissioned Lee to produce 50 paintings to illustrate a special hardcover edition of The Lord of the Rings trilogy, thus beginning his association with the author. He subsequently illustrated Tolkien’s Ring by David Day and the 1997 edition of The Hobbit. His next book, The Lord of the Rings Sketchbook, is due out from Harper Collins in September 2005.

Lee spent over six years working with Peter Jackson on the three Lord of the Rings movies, creating the distinctive look of Middle Earth. The three movies won the Hugo Award, Science Fiction’s highest honours, in 2002, 2003 and 2004. In 2004 he received an Oscar for his work as part of the art direction team on The Return of the King. He has also worked with Terry Jones on Erik the Viking and with Ridley Scott on Legend.

Interaction is the 63^rd World Science Fiction Convention and takes place in the Scottish Exhibition and Convention Centre from 4 to 8 August 2005.

ENDS

Photos available on request from press@interaction.worldcon.org.uk

Contacts

General: info@interaction.worldcon.org.uk
Press/Media: David Stewart - press@interaction.worldcon.org.uk

The 2005 World Science Fiction Convention, known as Interaction, will take place in Glasgow, UK from 4-8 August 2005. More information about Interaction, including current membership rates, is available from its web site (http://www.interaction.worldcon.org.uk/) or by writing to info@interaction.worldcon.org.uk.

Specific press contacts, or requests to be removed from the Interaction press release mailing list should be directed to press@interaction.worldcon.org.uk.

"WSFS", "Worldcon", "World Science Fiction Convention" and "Hugo Award" are service marks of the World Science Fiction Society, an unincorporated literary society. “Oscar” is a registered trademark of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

Release Date 18^th March 2005