Artistic illustration of a person in an elegant vintage outfit, wearing a hat with decorative elements, set against a blue background with botanical elements.

SleepyCat Studios is a director-led creative studio specialising in custom, illustration-first book cover design. We blend narrative insight with visual strategy to create covers that honour your story and connect with readers.

While every book is different, each project moves through a shared creative philosophy rooted in thoughtful research, tonal analysis, and strong conceptual direction. Whether subtle or bold, each cover is shaped with purpose, using composition, colour, and space to reflect both narrative and genre.

Every design is a unique response to the story it holds—professionally guided, creatively led, and built to last.

Who we are

Catch a glimpse into SleepyCat Studios’ visual language and artistic style.

These concept covers reflect the moods, themes, and visual storytelling we’re drawn to at SleepyCat Studios. Each one captures the kind of atmosphere we bring to every custom-illustrated project.

While all client work will be fully custom-illustrated, these designs offer a sense of our creative vision.

The Goat in the Attic
The Goat in the Attic
Genre: Folklore Horror
Style: Hand Inked + Harsh Shadows
Year: 2024
Type: Studio Concept

The Neverseed
The Neverseed
Genre: Mythic Fantasy
Style: Graphite + Digital Texture
Year: 2023
Type: Studio Concept

Desolate Wasteland
Desolate Wasteland
Genre: Post-Apocalyptic Sci-Fi
Style: Digital Ink + Soft Gradient
Year: 2023
Type: Studio Concept

The Silent Orchard
The Silent Orchard
Genre: Gothic Literary
Style: Graphite + Soft Light Effects
Year: 2023
Type: Studio Concept

Phantom Highway
Phantom Highway
Genre: Paranormal Horror
Style: Digital Matte + Ink Wash
Year: 2024
Type: Studio Concept

The Town on Mars
The Town on Mars
Genre: Retro Sci-Fi
Style: Vintage Poster Inspired
Year: 2023
Type: Studio Concept

The Last Colony
The Last Colony
Genre: Speculative Fiction
Style: Flat Vector + Isometric Texture
Year: 2023
Type: Studio Concept

The Puppet
The Puppet
Genre: Psychological Drama
Style: Minimalist Illustration + Surreal Scale
Year: 2025
Type: Studio Concept

Secrets of Villa Amore
Secrets of Villa Amore
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Style: Sun-drenched Street Scene + Painterly Brushwork
Year: 2025
Type: Studio Concept

The Art of Doing Nothing
The Art of Doing Nothing
Genre: Satirical Comedy
Style: Pixel-Inspired Flat Art
Year: 2024
Type: Studio Concept

Planated
Planated
Genre: Whimsical Sci-Fi
Style: Painterly Bloom + Dreamy Palette
Year: 2023
Type: Studio Concept

My First Winter on the 405th
My First Winter On The 405th
Genre: Urban Romcom
Style: Soft Perspective + Muted Tones
Year: 2023
Type: Studio Concept

Our Collaborative Process

✒ You share your story

We begin by listening. Every detail you offer, your themes, your tone, your characters, helps us step into your world. We ask questions, not just to understand, but to feel it with you.

✒ We sketch the soul of your book

From your vision, we create visual directions, thoughtful, tailored concepts designed to reflect the mood and magic of your manuscript.

✒ Your voice stays central

This is a conversation. Your feedback helps us refine the work into something that doesn’t just look beautiful, but feels right.

✒A design you’re proud to share with the World

What we create together is a cover you can stand behind, a visual doorway that resonates deeply with your story and your audience. We listen, ask questions, and get to know your story.

Begin Your Story
Door surrounded by a wall of stacked old books

We occasionally bring on illustrators, typographers, and other artists for select projects. If your work feels aligned with the tone and vision of SleepyCat Studios, we’d love to see your work.

Join Our Creative Circle