Richard Hescox is a key figure in the Imaginative Realism movement, known for his evocative fine art that blends classical technique with fantasy and mythic themes. Hescox's prolific illustration career saw his contributions to films like E.T. and The Dark Crystal, as well as to computer games, album covers, and hundreds of book illustrations. Among his most notable projects is the Subterranean Press edition of George R.R. Martin’s A Clash of Kings, for which he created over 70 pieces of art.

His work has been exhibited in institutions such as the Delaware Art Museum, the Canton Museum of Art, and the Society of Illustrators in New York. A comprehensive monograph of his work, The Deceiving Eye: The Art of Richard Hescox, has been published by Paper Tiger Press.