We caught up with the immensely talented London-based illustrator and creator of our striking Legacy of Kain Encyclopedia cover: Eileen Kai Hing Kwan.
From Vampire Hunter D to Castlevania, and now Legacy of Kain, Eileen is renowned for her stunning portraits of the night's most beautiful creatures. When she is not bringing vampires to (un)life through her illustrations, Eileen runs The Little Mandarin: an independent art and sweets shop in East London.
Eileen's cover for our Legacy of Kain Encyclopedia
Q: Please introduce yourself and let the audience know who you are and where they might know your work from.
Eileen: Hello! I'm Eileen Kai Hing Kwan. I'm an Illustrator who loves to draw haunting dream-like moments, with a soft spot for vampires. You may know my work from Warframe for Jade Shadows' in-game art, or book cover/illustrations for Penguin Random House and HarperCollins. You may also know my Vampire Hunter D, Bloodborne or Castlevania fanart floating around the internet!
Vampire Hunter D, Moonlight by Eileen Kai Hing Kwan
Q: The Legacy of Kain series was new to you but what were your initial thoughts when you were commissioned to make the cover for the Encyclopedia? Did it feel in some ways familiar considering your history illustrating other famous vampires (like your amazing Vampire Hunter D images) or did this feel different?
Eileen: I was really excited to draw for a vampire game when Shaun from LIC first got in touch, and I immediately loved the look of Legacy of Kain! It did initially feel different to the usual vampires I draw, but I loved the storytelling and quickly fell in love with the characters and the world. The opening cinematic of Soul Reaver was so stunning and I knew I had to draw something inspired from it for the cover. I was also over the moon when Steve and the team asked me to draw Kain and Raziel!
Eileen is known for her vampire artwork, from Vampire Hunter D to Castlevania
Q: Your works leans toward themes of horror and you capture such a unique delicate elegance and beauty in your depictions of the characters that inhabit those worlds, have you always been enamoured with this genre?
Eileen: Thank you and I have, although it took me a while to realise! I've always had a love for vampires, gothic romance and beautiful detailed designs, but I don't think I clocked I liked horror. Over the years though, I drew what I liked and I sort of stumbled into the horror genre by chance, found I enjoyed being here and I've absolutely loved it since!
Eileen's cover art for SILK & SINEW: A Collection of Folk Horror from the Asian Diaspora by K.P.Kulski
Q: If you could work on any series what would your dream project be?
Eileen: Vampire Hunter D. With all of Fromsoft and Castlevania too haha I can't pick one!
Elden Ring's Ranni the Witch by Eileen Kai Hing Kwan
Q: Any message for the backers/fans? And where can they follow you and buy your artwork?
Eileen: Thank you so so much, the support has been overwhelming! It was an honour to be a part of such an amazing project and it has meant so much to see everyone’s reactions. I really loved drawing Kain and Raziel and their world, and am certainly a Legacy of Kain fan now too! You can find me on X/twitter, Instagram and Bluesky as @whereiseileen and you can buy prints from me via INPRNT and The Little Mandarin. I'll also be opening an online shop soon with more prints in the next few weeks!
An AKIRA illustration by Eileen – featured in Vol. 002 of Lost In Cult's gaming journal periodical [lock-on]
