Liz Danforth

Liz Danforth has been a prominent figure in the games industry since 1976. Best known for her artwork, she has also made significant contributions as a writer, editor, and game developer. Her career began with illustrations for Flying Buffalo’s Tunnels & Trolls and Steve Jackson Games’ original Melee and Wizard. Over the decades, she has illustrated game rules, modules, and magazines for numerous companies, including Iron Crown’s Middle Earth RPG, GDW’s Traveller, FASA’s Battletech, Shadowrun, and Earthdawn, as well as TSR’s Dragon magazine and AD&D modules.

When Magic: The Gathering emerged, Liz contributed some of the earliest card art, producing over three dozen images for Wizards of the Coast. She also created art for many other collectible card games of the time, such as Middle Earth CCG, Legend of the Five Rings, Battletech CCG, and 7th Sea. Recently, she contributed to the alpha release of Sorcery: Contested Realm and continues to create new art for Steve Jackson Games’ The Fantasy Trip. Her extensive work in the industry earned her induction into GAMA’s Academy of Gaming Arts and Design Hall of Fame in 1995.

Liz is active on Patreon, sharing her creative process and engaging with supporters. She frequently participates in interviews, contributes essays, and has been featured in Julien Pirou's history of role-playing games, La Grande Aventure du Jeu de Rôle, and The Grognard Files podcast. Outside of gaming, she lives in the southwestern US with her Cardigan Welsh Corgi, and enjoys experimenting with abstract design styles like “frangles.” Her lifelong passion for Tolkien’s works and self-taught artistry continues to inspire her diverse creative endeavors.