Leo Hao

Leo Hao (Russian Лео Хао, transliteration Leo Chao, civil Алексей Михайлович Шамровский, Alexei Mikhailovich Schamrowskij; born March 1, 1973 in Moscow) is a Russian painter and graphic designer who has become known primarily for its provided with fantasy motifs album covers.

Hao worked as a mortician and learned painting at the same time as an autodidact. First appearance, he joined in 2001 as a cover illustrator of Russian heavy metal band Arija, for which he drew the cover of the album Chimera. As a result, Hao worked for numerous other works of this band. He received international recognition including through cover designs for Blind Guardian, Iced Earth, Demons & Wizards and Nocturnal Rites.

In addition to this work in the music business Hao has also worked as an illustrator for various fantasy authors, including Nik Perumow and Yuri Nikitin. He also designed an illustrated version of JRR Tolkien's " The Lord of the Rings" and looked at the artwork of the computer game Heroes of Might and Magic V.