06/03/2026
The gaming world and wider world at large has lost a great one today, as John Blanche, artist, miniature painter and gamer, has passed away.
John Blanche was one of the originals at Games Workshop and involved in the very first editions of Warhammer Fantasy Battle and Warhammer 40K. Blanche’s chaotic style of massed figures battling on a canvas that extended in all directions in an almost 3D style became synonymous with Warhammer Fantasy, Fantasy Battle, Necromunda, and of course, Warhammer 40K genres.
On a personal note, I still remember the day First Edition Warhammer was unveiled at my local hobby shop with one of John’s most iconic pieces calling you…inviting you…beckoning you to play. As I wrote my own rule sets or club journals I remember trying to copy (and failing) or at least capture the inspiration of his style for similar affect…never achieving it.
Blanche also provided illustrations for other such well-known authors and genres as Dungeons & Dragons, Tolkien retrospectives, Heavy Metal Album covers and too many gaming related pieces to mention.
In later years, Blanche focused on his miniature painting as well. His tutorials were famous and his recent Master Class paint sets flew off the shelves and inspired new generations of artists and miniature painters and gamers to make the hobby their own. His generosity with his time for other artists was legendary.
As I look through some of my oldest Warhammer books and artwork I am struck by what a huge impact John Blanche had on gaming. It was no longer just about pushing miniatures across a board. It was and is about creativity and imagination and community and camaraderie and discussion and all of the things expressed in the artwork of John Blanche.
