26 Stunning Lord of the Rings Concept Art Pieces by Alan Lee and John Howe

John Summers • Contributor

Jul 10, 2025 10:00 PM EDT

Before Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings trilogy made us all want to move to New Zealand and live in a hobbit hole, it existed as a vision - one shaped by two legendary artists: Alan Lee and John Howe. These two illustrators didn't just sketch out a fantasy world. They built Middle-earth. With pen, ink, and impossibly delicate watercolors, they gave shape to Tolkien's imagination long before the cameras rolled. Elven cities? Towering and ethereal. Orc strongholds? Dripping with dread. Gollum? Somehow even creepier than you remember. Every leaf in Lothlórien, every crack in Mount Doom—crafted with meticulous care and lore-soaked reverence.

This gallery features 26 concept art masterpieces that helped bring the epic saga to life. Whether you're a Tolkien scholar or someone who still tears up when Sam says "I can't carry it for you, but I can carry you," these images will absolutely hit you in the heart like a Nazgûl screech at 3 a.m. Prepare to fall in love with Middle-earth all over again.

01
Alan Lee on the left and John Howe on the right

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02
The Siege of Minas Tirith by Howe

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03
Treebeard first encounters the hobbits by Lee

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04
Gandalf the White rides with Pippin to Minas Tirith by Howe

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05
Departing forever from the Grey Havens for the Undying Lands by Lee

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06
"In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit." by Howe

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07
The Elven sanctuary of Rivendell by Lee

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08
Gollum leads Frodo and Sam past the dark fortress of Minas Morgul by Howe

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09
Edoras, the city on the hill, capital of Rohan by Lee

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10
Gandalf duels the Balrog, an ancient servant of the Dark Lord Morgoth by Howe

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11
The taming of Gollum by Lee

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12
The Witch-king of Angmar sits outside his Lord's stronghold, Barad-dûr by Howe

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13
The breaching of the Deeping Wall at Helm's Deep by Lee

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14
Eowyn confronts the lord of the Nazgûl on the Fields of Pelennor by Howe

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15
The White City, Minas Tirith by Lee

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16
Mithrandir by Howe

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17
"A wizard is never late." by Howe

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18
The Shire by Lee

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19
The Ringwraiths or consumed by the enchanted waters by Howe

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20
"Speak Friend and Enter" by Lee

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21
"9 mortal men, doomed to die" by Lee

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22
The Uruks leave with their half-ling captives by Howe

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23
Frodo and the Nazgûl by Howe

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24
King Theoden of Rohan corrupted by Saruman the wizard and his servant Grima Wormtongue by Lee

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25
The watcher in the water by Howe

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26
The Hunters make their way through the Forest of Fangorn by Lee

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