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Jim Kay

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"Is this real? Or has this been happening inside my head?"
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Jim Kay is an English illustrator and concept artist who designed the Illustrated Editions of the Harry Potter book series for Bloomsbury for over ten years, from Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone to Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. He was personally selected by J. K. Rowling.

Biography[]

Jim Kay is from Northamptonshire, England. He has a partner who supports him full time.[1] In 2012, he won the Kate Greenway Medal and Carnegie Medal due to illustrations for A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness. He has worked at the Tate and Royal Botanic Gardens which continue to influence him.[2]

Kay was personally selected by J. K. Rowling to illustrate Bloomsbury Illustrated Editions of the Harry Potter book series. Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone Illustrated Edition was published in 2015 to unanimous acclaim. In 2016, he published an Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, followed by the Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban edition in 2017. In 2019, the fourth Illustrated Edition was published.[3]

In October 2021, Harry Potter: A Magical Year, The Illustrations of Jim Kay was released. The book has a collection of iconic artwork from the first four books by Kay, and includes new, unseen artwork.[4] He has continued to achieve critical acclaim for the work.

Shortly before the release of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix Illustrated Edition, Kay announced that he would be stepping down as illustrator for the final two books as he needed to focus on his mental health. He collaborated with Neil Packer on Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, which was released in 2022.[5] In 2025, Levi Pinfold was announced as his replacement for the Illustrated Editions of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.[6]

Notable media[]

Notes and sources[]

  1. ↑ Jim Kay's website - About Me
  2. ↑ Scholastic - Jim Kay
  3. ↑ First look at Jim Kay's Illustrated Edition
  4. ↑ Wizarding World
  5. ↑ Jim Kay Will No Longer Be Illustrating "Harry Potter"
  6. ↑ [https://www.harrypotter.com/news/bloomsbury-announce-levi-pinfold-as-new-harry-potter-illustrator Wizarding World: Bloomsbury announce Levi Pinfold as the new illustrator of the Harry Potter Illustrated Editions series
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