Marillion are one of my favourite bands. Between 1983 and 1987 ‘Fish era’ Marillion delivered four brilliant studio albums, a live album and a wonderful collection of B-Sides. They were my first ever concert, at the Hammersmith Odeon for the Clutching at Straws tour.
Part of their appeal, to me, was the iconic artwork that accompanied their music.
The Marillion Artwork was created by the British artist, Mark Wilkinson. Working with Fish, the pair created this iconic ‘jester’ that would feature in their first two albums, and later the young drummer boy that would become so iconic at the peak of their commercial career.
Wilkinson’s style is characterised by his use of vivid colours, surreal imagery, and attention to detail. His artwork often includes intricate, almost psychedelic designs that reflect the emotional and musical complexity of Marillion’s music.
Some of Wilkinson’s most iconic album covers for Marillion include the jester on the cover of Script for a Jester’s Tear, the bird on the cover of Fugazi, and the painting of a young boy on the cover of Misplaced Childhood. These covers have become inseparable from the music they represent and are widely regarded as classic examples of album art.
Wilkinson has also worked with other bands, including Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, and Fish (the former Marillion lead singer), among others. His artwork has been featured in galleries around the world, and he continues to be a prominent figure in the world of album cover art.
Growing up I collected Marillion postcards as I travelled, which are showcased below.
However, I am now the proud owner of a growing collection of Marillion/Fish prints from Mark himself. You can find out more about Mark and the artwork of Marillion at the artist’s website.
