J.R.R. Tolkien painted the original cover designs for the first editions of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. He also created many interior illustrations, maps, and decorative designs connected with his books.
Tolkien’s visual work was closely connected to his writing. His drawings helped him imagine places such as Hobbiton and the Lonely Mountain, while his maps gave readers a structured view of the stories’ geography. The first edition of The Hobbit included several of his illustrations, and later editions used his artwork in different ways.
Other artists became strongly associated with Tolkien’s books. Pauline Baynes illustrated several Tolkien-related works, while Alan Lee and Ted Nasmith produced influential later images of Middle-earth. Their contributions should not be confused with Tolkien’s own original cover designs for the first editions.