Drawn to the field of illustration as a freelance artist, Josh Kirby's first published cover illustration painting was done in 1954 for the science fiction novel Cee-Tee Man by Dan Morgan. In a career spanning 5 decades, Kirby created over 400 illustrations for book covers in a wide range of genres including westerns, crime novels, science fiction, and non-fiction, as well as covers and interior art for science fiction magazines. He illustrated stories for authors including Brian Aldiss, Isaac Asimov, Ray Bradbury, Stephen Briggs, Edgar Rice Burroughs, Craig Shaw Gardner, Ron Goulart, Robert Heinlein, Alfred Hitchcock, R. L. Stine, Jack Kerouac, Ursula Le Guin, Richard Matheson, Guy de Maupassant, Terry Pratchett, Robert Rankin, Jimmy Sangster, Jules Verne, and H. G. Wells.

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From the 1950s to the 80s, Kirby illustrated film posters for studios in London and Paris. 

Working alongside designer Eddie Paul, Kirby depicted the characters for Star Wars: Return of the Jedi, The Beastmaster, and Krull, among others. Kirby switched his attention to role-playing games in the late 80s, providing cover art for Duelmasters, Tunnels & Trolls, and Wizards & Warriors.

 

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