The lovely Kristina Carroll has invited me to take part in this years Month of Fear, where artists do a painting a week based on a topic. This weeks topic was “Villains”; I chose Grima Wormtongue from The Lord of the Rings trilogy. Originally I was going to do a portrait of the great and powerful Saruman the White (which still may happen one day), but then I remembered Wormtongue.

Over the years I’ve regarded The Lord of the Rings’ Grima Wormtongue as one of the most intriguing characters of the series. Grotesque and unloved, weak and cowardly at his core, he betrays his homeland for the promise of power. Upon seeing the Uruk army at Isenguard, a tear runs down his cheek – Is it awe or regret? When he kills Saruman – Is it revenge for how he’s been treated, or is it his attempt at redemption?

So this is my take on Grima Wormtongue. Pathetic and sniveling while dooming the world of men.