The Story Behind Our Podcast Artwork
When we started The Films That Ruined Us, we knew the podcast needed cover art that truly captured its spirit—something cinematic, over-the-top, and packed with the kind of obsessive energy we bring to every episode. Enter Sam Gilbey, an award-winning illustrator whose work has graced projects for Walt Disney, Marvel Studios, Empire Magazine, and countless other top names in entertainment. If anyone could bring our ridiculous, film-fuelled vision to life, it was him.
Sam immediately saw what we were going for and suggested a post-apocalyptic, sci-fi, Blade Runner-inspired theme—something that felt just as dramatic and high-stakes as the movies we obsess over. And honestly? It was perfect.
The making of the artwork
With that concept in mind, we set off to do what any self-respecting podcast hosts would do: a photo shoot in Manchester, fuelled by caffeine, excitement, and an unhealthy amount of movie trivia. The idea was simple—Sam needed reference shots to build his artwork, so we met up, struck our most heroic poses, and let the magic happen.
Miles, true to form, couldn’t resist larking about between takes, delivering a surprisingly great Mick Jagger impression (and a ton of others) that probably didn’t help the creative process but definitely made for a fun day out. Katy, meanwhile, took the whole assignment very seriously and was fully committed to ensuring every angle was just right. Somewhere between discussing our favourite Blade Runner quotes and debating the best Mad Max movie, we also squeezed in lunch and plotted more ideas for the show.
From those photos, Sam got to work—and what he created was nothing short of spectacular. The final illustration features Katy rocking an eyepatch and a robotic arm, channelling serious Escape from New York Kurt Russell energy. Meanwhile, Miles looks every bit the Mad Max survivor, leading the charge away from an unseen cinematic horror. And, of course, no adventure would be complete without Edgar, the dog, faithfully trotting alongside us as we flee from whatever nightmare-inducing film has just wrecked our souls.
Why We Love It
The end result is everything we wanted—part gritty action movie poster, part cult classic fever dream, and totally in keeping with the ridiculous, obsessive love of film that drives The Films That Ruined Us. Sam has an incredible ability to blend realism with painterly cinematic flair, making our cover feel like a lost piece of artwork from an ‘80s VHS tape.
Speaking of which, Sam went above and beyond with creativity. Not only did he bring our vision to life with the main illustration, but he also had the brilliant idea of designing a full-blown movie poster for the podcast—something straight out of the golden era of home video rentals. He even took it a step further, introducing KAWACOMI—our very own fictional publishing brand for the podcast. A mishmash of our names, it adds another layer of in-universe fun, as if The Films That Ruined Us were its own underground, lost-to-time cult film.
It’s details like these that make Sam’s work stand out—not just as an illustrator but as a true artist who understands the power of storytelling through imagery. We couldn’t be happier with how it turned out. If movies are going to ruin us, we might as well look badass while it happens.
About Sam Gilbey
Of course, none of this would have been possible without Sam Gilbey, whose distinctive illustrations have been seen everywhere—from billboards to comics, books, magazines, movie packaging, and exhibitions. He has created artwork for some of the biggest names in entertainment, including Disney, Marvel Studios, Lucasfilm, HBO, Pixar, Sony Pictures, Paramount, and Empire Magazine, to name a few.
Sam is represented by Central Illustration Agency in the UK, France, Australia, and Norway and is a Poster Posse Pro in the US. He has also taught a Domestika course on painting digital pop culture portraits in Photoshop and shared his expertise with artists around the world. Even more impressive, he’s met the likes of Simon Pegg and Nick Frost, with the artwork he created for the test shoot of Paul at Shepperton Studios in 2008.
If you love bold, cinematic artwork with a pop culture twist, go follow Sam on Instagram, Threads, Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn. And check out his online portfolio, too.
A huge thank you to Sam for making us look far cooler than we actually are. We can’t wait for you to see the artwork in all its glory when The Films That Ruined Us launches in March.