Last year the US Creative Community was asked to select their two most favorite illustrators in 2008 Black Book Illustration.We calculated the results and asked the illustrators who received the most votes to submit a concept cover for 2009 Black Book Illustration and bring their own style and interpretation to the project. The only parameter the illustrators were given was: the theme of the book is "Find the Missing Piece".

Phil's image 'Why John Hurt?' was one of three runners up.

"The distorted figure on the front cover, when viewed in isolation, is unrecognizable although evidently human. Ironically, his twisted features and upturned mouth form a prominent smile masking the hurt within. Clues both in the title and the circus typography hint to Merrick's freak show origins. Cage bars form a back drop, whilst the jigsaw border gives a feeling of claustrophobia and symbolizes entrapment and exploitation. When front, back and spine are viewed, the elephant elements become apparent along with what I now know as the most famous quote from the film,"I am not an animal, I am a human being."To contradict this famous quote, I've depicted the masses as laughing hyenas. The church represents the view from Merrick's hospital window-the subject matter for his model which he completes on his death bed. The missing piece of the puzzle is the key to the whole film and relates to Merrick being wrongly labeled as an imbecile.