Ronald William "Josh" Kirby (27 November 1928 – 23 October 2001) was a commercial artist born on the outskirts of Liverpool in the UK.
Over a career spanning 60 years, he was the artist for the covers of many science fiction books including Terry Pratchett's Discworld novels. ==Personal life== He was born on 27 November 1928 at 58 Argo Road, Waterloo, Liverpool, UK.
In 1943 he returned to Liverpool and attended the Junior then Senior Schools of the Liverpool City School of Art from the age of 14 until he was 20.
He also met the model June Furlong in 1948 and they remained life-long friends. He moved to London in 1950. In 1965 he married Dianne Kingston and moved to The Old Rectory, Shelfanger, near Diss in Norfolk.
He also met the model June Furlong in 1948 and they remained life-long friends. He moved to London in 1950. In 1965 he married Dianne Kingston and moved to The Old Rectory, Shelfanger, near Diss in Norfolk.
He died of natural causes in his sleep at home in Shelfanger at the age of 72 on 23 Oct 2001 and was survived by his partner Jackie Rigden. ==Career== He worked as freelance all his career, having left his only employment after half a day. After leaving art school, Liverpool City Council commissioned him to paint the Lord Mayor, Alderman Joseph Jackson Cleary, in 1950.
His first published book cover art was for the 1955 science fiction novel Cee-Tee Man, by Dan Morgan.
In 1956 he created a cover for Ian Fleming's book Moonraker.
He also met the model June Furlong in 1948 and they remained life-long friends. He moved to London in 1950. In 1965 he married Dianne Kingston and moved to The Old Rectory, Shelfanger, near Diss in Norfolk.
They divorced in 1982.
Ronald William "Josh" Kirby (27 November 1928 – 23 October 2001) was a commercial artist born on the outskirts of Liverpool in the UK.
He died of natural causes in his sleep at home in Shelfanger at the age of 72 on 23 Oct 2001 and was survived by his partner Jackie Rigden. ==Career== He worked as freelance all his career, having left his only employment after half a day. After leaving art school, Liverpool City Council commissioned him to paint the Lord Mayor, Alderman Joseph Jackson Cleary, in 1950.
Starting with The Colour of Magic, he eventually produced the covers for 26 of the series until his death in 2001.
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