Fable Art Director Paul McLaughlin Has Died, Aged 57

The UK games industry has come together to pay tribute to artist and developer Paul McLaughlin after it emerged he'd passed away in December following a lengthy battle with cancer. He was 57.

McLaughlin spent 15 years at Lionhead - nearly half his career - as art director on Fable and Black & White. Here, he helped to shape the iconic look and feel of both series. No doubt his presence will be keenly felt throughout Playground Games' upcoming Fable reboot.

"Paul was a huge cornerstone in my life," Lionhead co-founder Peter Molyneux write in tribute. "He was a professional, moral and funny person who had the ability to see the fair and sensible approach in any situation. I miss him every day in every way. His legacy will be felt and seen for a long, long time."

Molyneux added that McLaughlin was “a great artist, a wonderful mentor, and an inspirational man", a sentiment echoed by many of the industry figures who have come forward with tributes over the last few days.

"I'm not sure where to start, really, besides saying how glad I am to have known and worked alongside Paul," said 22cans lead artist Annah Wootten-Pineles. "He was a very talented artist and art director, whose quiet and methodical guidance made him a well-respected leader of the team.

"His advice and critique were always asked for, and he was continually supportive of any work we did."

Mark Healey, co-Founder and creative director at Dreams studio Media Molecule added that McLaughlin was an "amazing" artist who always made him strive to be better.

"It's a very tragic loss, he was too young to leave us now, but gone he is - not in my (and many others') mind though, he will always have a special place there, and I will ask him when needed for advice on how to be a better person," Healey wrote.

"Rest in peace now Paul, you were f**king brilliant."