Ben Templesmith (born 7 March 1978) is an Australian comic book artist best known for his work in the American comic book industry, most notably the Image Comics series Fell, with writer Warren Ellis, which is credited with pioneering a new format for commercial comics, and IDW's 30 Days of Night with writer Steve Niles, which was adapted into a motion picture of the same name. As well as being nominated for multiple Eisner Awards four years in a row for his comic work, 2005-2008 as well as a 2008 International Horror Guild Award for The Nightmare Factory. He has also created book covers, movie posters, trading cards, and concept work for film.
Templesmith produced his first commercial American comics work in 2002, providing the art for Todd McFarlane Productions' Hellspawn, which was published by Image Comics. He has gone on to create his own original works as well as contribute to many licensed properties at various publishers, most notably IDW Publishing, with which he had an exclusive agreement through most of 2008 and part of 2009 before returning to being a freelancer.
Licensed properties that Templesmith has worked on include illustrating "Dark Journey", a story in issue #17 of the Dark Horse Comics anthology series Star Wars Tales in 2003, and the covers to Devil's Due Publishing's Ashes to Ashes #1 in 2004 and IDW's G.I. Joe #0 in 2008.
Other works Templesmith has produced include Welcome to Hoxford, Tommyrot: The Art of Ben Templesmith and Conluvio. He also provides covers for the Oni Press series Wasteland.
Currently Templesmith is collaborating with British comics writer Ben McCool on Choker at Image Comics. He writes and draws his own semi-regular series, Gentleman Corpse, for IDW Publishing.
2007 International Horror Guild Award for Illustrated Narrative (with Thomas Ligotti, Joe Harris, Stuart Moore, Michael Gaydos, Colleen Doran and Ted McKeever for The Nightmare Factory)
2010 Spike TV Scream Award for Best Comic Book (with Steve Niles for 30 Days of Night)
Nominations
2005 Eisner Award for Best Limited Series (for Return to Barrow, with Steve Niles)
2005 Eisner Award for Best Painter/Multimedia Artist (for 30 for Days of Night: Return to Barrow)
2006 Eisner Award for Best Continuing Series (with Warren Ellis for Fell)
2006 Eisner Award for Best New Series (with Warren Ellis for Fell)
2006 Eisner Award for Best Painter/Multimedia Artist (for Fell)
2007 Eisner Award for Best Limited Series (with Frank Beddor, Liz Cavalier for The Looking Glass Wars: Hatter M)
2007 Eisner Award for Painter/Multimedia Artist (for The Looking Glass Wars: Hatter M)
2006 International Horror Guild Award for Illustrated Narrative (with Steve Niles for Dark Days)
2006 International Horror Guild Award for Graphic Narrative (with Steve Niles and Ashley Wood for 30 Days of Night issues 1 -3)
2007 Horror Guild Award for Illustrated Narrative (for Wormwood Gentleman Corpse: Birds, Bees, Blood & Beer)
