HARDY, David A(ndrews)

(1936-)

   UK illustrator, known as much for his astronomical paintings in the accurate tradition of Chesley BONESTELL as for his sf work. DH learned his craft at the Margaret Street College of Art in Birmingham, and was soon painting for the British Interplanetary Society. Some of his best early work was to illustrate a nonfiction book by Patrick MOORE, Sun, Myth, and Men (1954); DAH later illustrated and cowrote with MooreChallenge of the Stars (1972). His work has appeared on magazine and book covers, most notably (beginning 1971) many covers for FSF, the magazine for which he developed his famous "Space Gumby", a green alien which lent humour to his vivid astronomical scenes. He was an important artist for VISION OF TOMORROW, and worked also for Science Fiction Monthly, If andGal. Other book credits include Galactic Tours (1981) with Bob SHAW and artwork for Atlas of the Solar System (1982) and Visions of Space (1989).

   JG/PN