AVAILABLE EXCLUSIVELY TO COLLECTORS
Paul Taggart's
ORIGINAL WATERCOLOUR PAINTINGS
plus COLLECTION of chapter header ink drawings
produced for this first version of
the Elphen Chronicles prequel
Welcome to this gallery featuring the first-ever, original watercolour paintings and chapter-header ink drawings, created for the first-edition hardback of the Elphen Chronicles – in effect, what has become the ‘prequel’ to Paul Taggart’s Elphen Chronicles. It all started in 1995 when I found myself creating something that gripped my imagination, a new genre of winged beings.
During the light-of-day I would take up my brush and palette to work on the Watercolours, which were enchanting me. As I painted, I found a book writing itself in my head, so that once the light had gone from the day, I would swap brush and palette for pen and paper. For the months I was engaged in painting these new creatures, I became so engrossed that all other paintings were forsaken in order to free my mind to concentrate on completing the book. Friends were conscripted to listen to readings of the first few chapters and I am delighted say enthused over the new folk being brought to life in my paintings. Finally, seventeen chapters and eighteen full plate Watercolour illustrations had been completed and this book was ready for publishing.
Eileen & I set to, producing the first draft design and pagination for the book and for the Elphen logo. We decided to revert to some of the more traditional ways of setting out a book. Chapters only beginning on a right-hand page. Full plate illustrations only on a right-hand page and not backed with any text. A border edging the full plate illustrations. Chapter headings in green. The initial capital at the beginning of the chapter to be dropped and picked out in green. Book title and chapter headings on text pages to appear and in green. When we had virtually finished everything, Eileen and I decided that it would add that something extra to the book if I was to produce a pen and ink drawing to head up each chapter.
This is in the days before high-quality digital photography and consequently, all the illustrations had to be photographed onto large transparencies for scanning before putting onto film and onto the plates for printing. Adjustments were made on the press to ensure we were happy with the illustrations. The sheets were transferred from the four-colour press to the two-colour press to print the type. Then off to the bookbinders. But only in batches of 100 at a time, for this was to be a hand-bound book, using traditional binding methods.
Paul Taggart
Click on any image below to take a magnified walk around the painting.
Sirensong's Favourite Haunt
Frontispiece
from The Elphen Chronicles [original studio/prequel edition]
Watercolours on Paper
Image Size 21cm[w] x 29.5cm[h]
PRIVATE COLLECTION
This original Elphen watercolour painting is no longer available through Paul Taggart’s studio. If you are interested in discussing another original Elphen painting please click here to message us privately and we will be pleased to make contact to take it from there.
Unframed - Protected under acid-free window-mount
Lacewing - Swarm Leader
Chapter 1 : Swarm
from The Elphen Chronicles [original studio/prequel edition]
Watercolours on Paper
Image Size 21cm[w] x 29.5cm[h]
PRIVATE COLLECTION
This original Elphen watercolour painting is no longer available through Paul Taggart’s studio. If you are interested in discussing another original Elphen painting please click here to message us privately and we will be pleased to make contact to take it from there.
Unframed - Protected under acid-free window-mount
Sirensong - Nest Mother
Chapter 2 : The Mountains Sing
from The Elphen Chronicles [original studio/prequel edition]
Watercolours on Paper
Image Size 21cm[w] x 29.5cm[h]
Available for Private Purchase £4,500
This original Elphen watercolour painting is privately available for purchase through Paul Taggart’s studio. If you are interested in discussing a possible purchase please click here to message us privately and we will be pleased to make contact to take it from there.
Unframed - Protected under acid-free window-mount
Starfire - Nest Wizard
Chapter 3 : Starfall
from The Elphen Chronicles [original studio/prequel edition]
Watercolours on Paper
Image Size 21cm[w] x 29.5cm[h]
Available for Private Purchase £4,500
This original Elphen watercolour painting is privately available for purchase through Paul Taggart’s studio. If you are interested in discussing a possible purchase please click here to message us privately and we will be pleased to make contact to take it from there.
Unframed - Protected under acid-free window-mount
Harvesting Starfall
Chapter 4 : Blight
from The Elphen Chronicles [original studio/prequel edition]
Watercolours on Paper
Image Size 21cm[w] x 29.5cm[h]
Available for Private Purchase £4,500
This original Elphen watercolour painting is privately available for purchase through Paul Taggart’s studio. If you are interested in discussing a possible purchase please click here to message us privately and we will be pleased to make contact to take it from there.
Unframed - Protected under acid-free window-mount
Serpentspear, Bloodsword, Thunderaxe - Elphen Warriors
Chapter 5 : The Kryd War
from The Elphen Chronicles [original studio/prequel edition]
Watercolours on Paper
Image Size 21cm[w] x 29.5cm[h]
PRIVATE COLLECTION
This original Elphen watercolour painting is no longer available through Paul Taggart’s studio. If you are interested in discussing another original Elphen painting please click here to message us privately and we will be pleased to make contact to take it from there.
Unframed - Protected under acid-free window-mount
Artimus Carried by the Swarm
Chapter 6 : Armulets of the Dark
from The Elphen Chronicles [original studio/prequel edition]
Watercolours on Paper
Image Size 21cm[w] x 29.5cm[h]
Available for Private Purchase £4,500
This original Elphen watercolour painting is privately available for purchase through Paul Taggart’s studio. If you are interested in discussing a possible purchase please click here to message us privately and we will be pleased to make contact to take it from there.
Unframed - Protected under acid-free window-mount
Starfire's Chamber - Starfire's Flamepicture
Chapter 7 : The Quest
from The Elphen Chronicles [original studio/prequel edition]
Watercolours on Paper
Image Size 21cm[w] x 29.5cm[h]
Available for Private Purchase £4,500
This original Elphen watercolour painting is privately available for purchase through Paul Taggart’s studio. If you are interested in discussing a possible purchase please click here to message us privately and we will be pleased to make contact to take it from there.
Unframed - Protected under acid-free window-mount
Preparing for the Quest
Chapter 8 : Up and Away
from The Elphen Chronicles [original studio/prequel edition]
Watercolours on Paper
Image Size 21cm[w] x 29.5cm[h]
Available for Private Purchase £4,500
This original Elphen watercolour painting is privately available for purchase through Paul Taggart’s studio. If you are interested in discussing a possible purchase please click here to message us privately and we will be pleased to make contact to take it from there.
Unframed - Protected under acid-free window-mount
Silver Key
Chapter 9 : The Blue Light
from The Elphen Chronicles [original studio/prequel edition]
Watercolours on Paper
Image Size 21cm[w] x 29.5cm[h]
Available for Private Purchase £4,500
This original Elphen watercolour painting is privately available for purchase through Paul Taggart’s studio. If you are interested in discussing a possible purchase please click here to message us privately and we will be pleased to make contact to take it from there.
Unframed - Protected under acid-free window-mount
The Abyss #1
Chapter 10 : Confrontation
from The Elphen Chronicles [original studio/prequel edition]
Watercolours on Paper
Image Size 21cm[w] x 29.5cm[h]
Available for Private Purchase £4,500
This original Elphen watercolour painting is privately available for purchase through Paul Taggart’s studio. If you are interested in discussing a possible purchase please click here to message us privately and we will be pleased to make contact to take it from there.
Unframed - Protected under acid-free window-mount
The Abyss #2 [alternative not published in book]
Chapter 10 : Confrontation
from The Elphen Chronicles [original studio/prequel edition]
Watercolours on Paper
Image Size 21cm[w] x 29.5cm[h]
Available for Private Purchase £4,500
This original Elphen watercolour painting is privately available for purchase through Paul Taggart’s studio. If you are interested in discussing a possible purchase please click here to message us privately and we will be pleased to make contact to take it from there.
Unframed - Protected under acid-free window-mount
Flora's Kitchen
Chapter 11 : Fall
from The Elphen Chronicles [original studio/prequel edition]
Watercolours on Paper
Image Size 21cm[w] x 29.5cm[h]
Available for Private Purchase £4,500
This original Elphen watercolour painting is privately available for purchase through Paul Taggart’s studio. If you are interested in discussing a possible purchase please click here to message us privately and we will be pleased to make contact to take it from there.
Unframed - Protected under acid-free window-mount
Starfang - Guardian of Thunderspur
Chapter 12 : The Chase
from The Elphen Chronicles [original studio/prequel edition]
Watercolours on Paper
Image Size 21cm[w] x 29.5cm[h]
Available for Private Purchase £4,500
This original Elphen watercolour painting is privately available for purchase through Paul Taggart’s studio. If you are interested in discussing a possible purchase please click here to message us privately and we will be pleased to make contact to take it from there.
Unframed - Protected under acid-free window-mount
The Fall of Thunderspur
Chapter 13 : Night Meeting
from The Elphen Chronicles [original studio/prequel edition]
Watercolours on Paper
Image Size 21cm[w] x 29.5cm[h]
Available for Private Purchase £4,500
This original Elphen watercolour painting is privately available for purchase through Paul Taggart’s studio. If you are interested in discussing a possible purchase please click here to message us privately and we will be pleased to make contact to take it from there.
Unframed - Protected under acid-free window-mount
Birth of Excalibur
Chapter 14 : Thunderspur Dawn
from The Elphen Chronicles [original studio/prequel edition]
Watercolours on Paper
Image Size 21cm[w] x 29.5cm[h]
Available for Private Purchase £4,500
This original Elphen watercolour painting is privately available for purchase through Paul Taggart’s studio. If you are interested in discussing a possible purchase please click here to message us privately and we will be pleased to make contact to take it from there.
Unframed - Protected under acid-free window-mount
The Razorbeak Attack
Chapter 15 : The Coming of the Dark Swarm
from The Elphen Chronicles [original studio/prequel edition]
Watercolours on Paper
Image Size 21cm[w] x 29.5cm[h]
Available for Private Purchase £4,500
This original Elphen watercolour painting is privately available for purchase through Paul Taggart’s studio. If you are interested in discussing a possible purchase please click here to message us privately and we will be pleased to make contact to take it from there.
Unframed - Protected under acid-free window-mount
Within the Lair of Drak
Chapter 16 : Standing Stones
from The Elphen Chronicles [original studio/prequel edition]
Watercolours on Paper
Image Size 21cm[w] x 29.5cm[h]
Available for Private Purchase £4,500
This original Elphen watercolour painting is privately available for purchase through Paul Taggart’s studio. If you are interested in discussing a possible purchase please click here to message us privately and we will be pleased to make contact to take it from there.
Unframed - Protected under acid-free window-mount
A New Beginning
Chapter 17 : Farewell
from The Elphen Chronicles [original studio/prequel edition]
Watercolours on Paper
Image Size 21cm[w] x 29.5cm[h]
Available for Private Purchase £4,500
This original Elphen watercolour painting is privately available for purchase through Paul Taggart’s studio. If you are interested in discussing a possible purchase please click here to message us privately and we will be pleased to make contact to take it from there.
Unframed - Protected under acid-free window-mount
18 Chapter Headings - includes alternative for CH13
All 17 chapters
from The Elphen Chronicles [original studio/prequel edition]
Ink on card
Unmounted - seven sheets of rectangular card as shown
Available for Private Purchase £3,250
These original Elphen ink drawings are privately available for purchase through Paul Taggart’s studio. If you are interested in discussing a possible purchase please click here to message us privately and we will be pleased to make contact to take it from there.
Unmounted - seven sheets of rectangular card as shown
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Delve in to discover the Video-StoryBooks - ‘Webstrand, the Tooth Gatherer’ and ‘Starway Sapphires’, the first of the Paintbox Tales.
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Rummage through the hoard to reveal a cache of Behind-The-Scenes Videos.
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Search out Bonus Features and Painting Reveals.
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ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 2026 – Paul Taggart has asserted his Rights as the Sole Artist & Author of Paul Taggart’s Elphen Chronicles. ALL RIGHTS (including Music) owned by Paul W. Taggart, Eileen M. Tunnell, Sunita J. Gahir [The Three Quills]
The Three Quills studio, symbolising the trio of creative strands that are art & design, writings and music.
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Paul Taggart – Artist : Author : Presenter : Producer [Sole Author & Illustrator of ‘Paul Taggart’s Elphen Chronicles©’]
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Eileen Tunnell – Project Director, Producer, Video Auteur ‘Paul Taggart’s Elphen Chronicles’
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Sunita Gahir – Design Director/Producer ‘Paul Taggart’s Elphen Chronicles’
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Liza Mulholland – Music Director/Producer ‘Paul Taggart’s Elphen Chronicles’