Joshua Tabti, a Hertfordshire-based cartographer and artist, transformed a 2019 hit-and-run cycling accident in south London into a full-time career drawing intricate, Tolkien-inspired pictorial maps, recently completing a two-month research project covering Yorkshire and Lancashire.
The Bottom Line
- Joshua Tabti transitioned to professional cartography after a 2019 hit-and-run crash left him housebound and unable to continue working as a climbing instructor.
- His latest work spans Yorkshire and Lancashire, drawing inspiration from the maps created by JRR Tolkien for Middle-earth.
- Tabti has produced roughly 30 pictorial maps featuring landscapes worldwide, utilizing historical medieval oblique angles and dip pen and ink.
From a South London Collision to Middle-earth Cartography
When Joshua Tabti found himself confined to his home following a hit-and-run crash while cycling in south London in 2019, he decided to tackle a project he had long postponed. Operating out of his studio, the 32-year-old launched a career in cartography that began with a map of Iceland, where he had previously spent a year working as a glacier guide.
The blessing in disguise was that it got me back into illustration and art,
Tabti explains, describing the incident as the silver lining of a rubbish accident. Growing up in High Wycombe with a fondness for JRR Tolkien’s works introduced to him by a school friend, Tabti found that Middle-earth’s maps served as a childhood symbol for home and friendship. That early fascination now anchors a professional portfolio comprising approximately 30 pictorial maps depicting diverse global terrains, ranging from the island of Ireland and Malaysia to Virginia.
Researching Coast-to-Coast Landscapes with Dip Pen and Ink
Tabti’s creative process relies heavily on meticulous preparation. Roughly half of his time on any given project is dedicated to historical and geographical research before he ever touches a pen. His latest undertaking required two months of database building across Yorkshire and Lancashire, gathering local records and tracking down hidden gems that elude standard online searches.
| Project Details | Cartography Specifications |
|---|---|
| Total Maps Created | Approximately 30 pictorial maps |
| Primary Medium | Dip pen and ink |
| Core Inspirations | JRR Tolkien, medieval oblique perspectives |
| Latest Focus Area | Yorkshire and Lancashire (Coast-to-Coast) |
Working with dip pen and ink requires absolute precision. Tabti notes that errors demand tedious correction via rubbing out or physically shaving off the top layer of paper. To guarantee topographical accuracy, he consulted local residents on online forums, refining the details to ensure the landscapes remain instantly recognizable to the people who actually live there.
Traveling Through the Pen and the French Alps
Before being struck by a car in south London, the French Alps sat next on his itinerary. Drawing the region’s peaks and valleys from his studio allowed him to map the terrain long before he ever stayed there.
To finally visit and see the landscapes I had known so well from drawing them, but had never stayed in, that was a real pleasure,
Tabti remarks on experiencing those alpine views in person.
