Malvern artist Ian Field-Richards has just had a book of his artwork published.

Ian is a digital artist and all his work is produced using a digital pallet on a computer screen.

Available to view on the web his unusual images, often dark and macabre, have been used on everything from web sites and book covers to mouse mats and calendars.

Popular as far away as America and Russia Ian's digital art has been published in other art books as an example of what digital artists can achieve.

"I decided that if other publishers thought my work was worth putting in a book I might as well produce a book of my own," said Ian.

Ian says his fantasy images come from his imagination and he sees them in his mind before he creates them on screen.

"People often ask me if I have trouble sleeping at night," joked Ian, whose images include horror as well as dark fantasy.

He used to create his pictures the traditional way using drawing, painting and airbrushing but found that creating images with a digital pallet gave him the freedom to "explore and be more experimental because its so easy to 'undo' something".

Ian, who works on website design at QinetiQ, said digital art was very immediate and accessible particularly because the internet made it available to such a large audience.

He is a member of a two million strong on-line art community with whom he shares his work.

He describes creating his work as a complete contrast to his work as a designer.

"Instead of creating something to suit someone else my art is just for me. It's a bonus that other people like it and want to use it," said Ian.

Ian's book Heartwork, The Art of Ian Field-Richards, can be viewed and bought online at www.lulu.com/content/227677 and is also available from www.amazon.com.