Hugh Syme is a Canadian graphic artist and member of the Premier Artists Collection (PAC), best known for his artwork and cover concepts for rock and metal bands. His work has won five Juno awards. Other bands for which Syme has created artwork include Megadeth, Saga, Styx, Altered State, Fates Warning, Whitesnake, Queensrÿche, Aerosmith, and Dream Theater.
Album cover art
Chronological list of Hugh Syme's album cover art (including studio, live, compilation and extended play LPs).
{| class="wikitable"
|- style="background:#b0c4de; text-align:center;"
! Year
! Artist
! Album
! Role
|-
| 1975
| Rush
| Caress of Steel
| Graphics
|-
| 1975
| Ian Thomas Band
| Delights
| Graphics with John Fraser
|-
| 1976
| Ian Thomas Band
| Calabash
| Graphics and Starman Logo
|-
| 1976
| Rush
| All the World's a Stage
| Graphics
|-
| 1977
| Rush
| A Farewell to Kings
| Art direction and graphics
|-
| 1977
| Max Webster
| High Class in Borrowed Shoes
| Art direction and graphics
|-
| 1978
| Rush
| Hemispheres
| Art direction with Bob King and graphics
|-
| 1978
| Rush
| Archives
| Design with Bob King and graphics
|-
| 1978
| Klaatu
| Sir Army Suit
| Cover art
|-
| 1978
| Max Webster
| Mutiny Up My Sleeve
| Art direction and design
|-
| 1979
| Ian Thomas Band
| Glider
| Art direction and graphics. Cover concept created with Neil Peart.
|-
| 1980
| Toronto
| Lookin' for Trouble
| Graphics and design with Michael Gray.
|-
| 1981
| Rush
| Moving Pictures
| Art direction and graphics. Cover concept created with Deborah Samuel.
|-
| 1981
| Rush
| Exit...Stage Left
| Art direction, graphics and cover concept
|-
| 1982
| Rush
| Signals
| Art direction, graphics and cover concept
|-
| 1982
| Saga
| In Transit
| Art direction and design
|-
| 1982
| Gowan
| Gowan
| Art direction, graphics and cover concept
|-
| 1982
| Harlequin
| One False Move
| Cover design
|-
| 1983
| Red Rider
| Neruda
| Art direction and cover design
|-
| 1984
| Rush
| Grace Under Pressure
| Art direction
|-
| 1989
| Rush
| A Show of Hands
| Art direction and design
|-
| 1989
| Kingdom Come
| In Your Face
| Design
|-
| 1989
| Bad English
| Bad English
| Art direction and design
|-
| 1989
| Fates Warning
| Perfect Symmetry
| Art direction
|-
| 1990
| Slaughter
| Stick It to Ya
| Cover design with Glen Wexler
|-
| 1990
| Styx
| Edge of the Century
| Art direction and design
|-
| 1990
| Warrant
| Cherry Pie
| Art direction, illustrations and design
|-
| 1993
| BulletBoys
| Za-Za
| Lettering, letter design
|-
| 1993
| The Boomers
| The Art of Living
| Art direction, illustrations and design
|-
| 1993
| The Band
| Jericho
| Cover art, art direction and design
|-
| 1994
| Stray Cats
| Choo Choo Hot Fish
| Art direction and design
|-
| 1994
| Roger Clinton
| Nothing Good Comes Easy
| Artwork and design
|-
| 1994
| Dave Edmunds
| Plugged In
| Art direction and design
|-
| 1994
| Whitesnake
| Greatest Hits
| Art direction and design
|-
| 1994
| Megadeth
| Youthanasia
| Art direction, illustrations and design
|-
| 1997
| Alice Cooper
| A Fistful of Alice
| Art direction and design
|-
| 1997
| Rush
| Retrospective II
| Art direction, illustration and design
|-
| 1998
| Uriah Heep
| Classic Heep: An Anthology
| Art direction and design
|-
| 1999
| The Kings
| The Kings Are Here..and More
| Design
|-
| 1999
| Tiles
| Presents of Mind
| Cover concept, artwork and design
|-
| 1999
| Henry Lee Summer
| Smoke and Mirrors
| Art direction and design
|-
| 1999
| Charlotte Church
| Charlotte Church
| Art direction, design and photography
|-
| 2000
| Arena
| Immortal?
| Art direction, paintings and portraits
|-
| 2002
| Heather Myles
| Sweet Talk and Good Lies
| Art direction and design
|-
| 2002
| Styx
| At the River's Edge: Live in St. Louis
| Logo design
|-
| 2002
| Carrie Newcomer
| The Gathering of Spirits
| Art direction and design
|-
| 2002
| The Boomers
| Midway
| Art direction, illustrations and design
|-
| 2003
| The Allman Brothers Band
| Hittin' the Note
| Art direction, illustrations
|-
| 2003
| Extol
| Synergy
| Cover art
|-
| 2003
| Rush
| Rush in Rio
| Art direction, illustrations and design
|-
| 2003
| Rush
| The Spirit of Radio: Greatest Hits 1974–1987
| Art direction and design
|-
| 2003
| The Wayfaring Strangers
| This Train
| Art direction
|-
| 2003
| Quill•Tolhurst
| So Rudely Interrupted
| Cover art and graphics
|-
| 2004
| Travis Larson
| Burn Season
| Art direction
|-
| 2004
| Billy Jonas
| Get Real
| Art direction, illustrations and design
|-
| 2004
| Carrie Newcomer
| Betty's Diner: The Best of Carrie Newcomer
| Art direction and design
|-
| 2004
| Tiles
| Window Dressing
| Artwork, photography and design
|-
| 2004
| Rush
| Feedback (EP)
| Art direction, illustrations and design
|-
| 2005
| Various artists
| Subdivisions: A Tribute to Rush
| Art direction and design
|-
| 2005
| Dream Theater
| Octavarium
| Art direction, illustrations and design
|-
| 2005
| Nevermore
| This Godless Endeavor
| Cover art
|-
| 2005
| Bad Moon Rising
| Full Moon Collection
| Design
|-
| 2005
| Carrie Newcomer
| Regulars and Refugees
| Art direction and design
|-
| 2005
| Rush
| R30: 30th Anniversary World Tour
| Art direction, illustrations and design
|-
| 2006
| Oneside
| Oneside
| Art direction, illustrations and design
|-
| 2006
| Rush
| Gold
| Art direction and design
|-
| 2006
| Rush
| Rush Replay X 3
| Art direction and design
|-
| 2006
| Stone Sour
| Come What(ever) May
| Art direction, illustrations and design
|-
| 2007
| Dream Theater
| Systematic Chaos
| Art direction, illustrations and design
|-
| 2007
| Rush
| Snakes & Arrows
| Art direction, illustrations and design
|-
| 2007
| Queensrÿche
| Sign of the Times: The Best of Queensrÿche
| Art direction, illustrations and design
|-
| 2007
| Byron Nemeth Group
| The Force Within
| Art direction, illustrations and design
|-
| 2007
| Krista Detor
| Cover Their Eyes
| Art direction and design
|-
| 2007
| Charlotte Church
| The Charlotte Church Show
| Art direction, photography and design
|-
| 2008
| Oneside
| First, to Last
| Art direction and design
|-
| 2008
| Tiles
| Fly Paper
| Artwork, design, photography, and illustrations
|-
| 2008
| Dream Theater
| Greatest Hit (...And 21 Other Pretty Cool Songs)
| Art direction, design, photography, and illustrations
|-
| 2008
| Dream Theater
| Chaos in Motion 2007–2008
| Artwork and design
|-
|2008
| Cynic (UK)
|Suburban Crisis
|Art Direction, Photography, and Design
|-
| 2008
| Rush
| Snakes & Arrows Live
| Art direction, illustrations and design
|-
| 2008
| Bob Mover
| It Amazes Me
| Art direction, photography and design
|-
| 2009
| Queensrÿche
| American Soldier
| Art direction, illustrations and design
|-
| 2009
| Rush
| Retrospective 3
| Art direction and design
|-
| 2009
| Rush
| Grace Under Pressure Tour
| Art direction and design
|-
| 2009
| Dream Theater
| Black Clouds & Silver Linings
| Art direction, illustrations and design
|-
| 2009
| Flying Machines
| Flying Machines
| Art direction, illustrations and design
|-
| 2010
| Carrie Newcomer
| Before & After
| Art direction and design
|-
| 2010
| Krista Detor
| Chocolate Paper Suites
| Art direction, illustrations and design
|-
| 2010
| Rush
| Icon
| Cover art
|-
| 2011
| Rush
| Icon 2
| Cover art
|-
| 2011
| 3 Doors Down
| Time of My Life
| Cover concept, art direction, illustrations and design
|-
| 2011
| Dream Theater
| A Dramatic Turn of Events
| Art direction and design
|-
| 2011
| Rush
| Time Machine 2011: Live in Cleveland
| Art direction and design
|-
| 2012
| Betrayer
| Betrayer
| Art direction, artwork and design
|-
| 2012
| Rush
| Clockwork Angels
| Cover art
|-
| 2012
| Rush
| 2112 5.1
| Art direction and design
|-
| 2012
| Tiles
| Off the Floor 01
| Cover art
|-
| 2013
| Dream Theater
| Dream Theater
| Cover and album design
|-
| 2014
| Carrie Newcomer
| A Permeable Life
|-
| 2014
| Tiles
| Off the Floor 02
| Cover art
|-
| 2014
| Flying Colors
| Second Nature
| art direction, design, illustrations
|-
|2014
| Dream Theater
|Breaking the Fourth Wall
| Cover art
|-
|2017
| Rush
|A Farewell To Kings-40th Anniversary Deluxe Edition
| Art Direction and design
|-
|2018
| Rush
|Hemispheres-40th Anniversary Deluxe Edition
| Art Direction and design
|-
|2018
|Alien Country
|Like My Life Depends on It
|Art Director, artwork and design
|-
|2019
| Dream Theater
|Distance Over Time
| Cover art
|-
|2020
| Rush
|Permanent Waves-40th Anniversary Deluxe Edition
| Art Direction and design
|-
|2020
| Gustavo Carmo (feat. Brian Tichy, Rudy Sarzo & Derek Sherinian)
|On and Off
| Cover art
|-
|2020
| Wandering X
|Carved in Stone
| Cover art
|-
|2020
| Dream Theater
|Distant Memories - Live in London
| Cover art
|-
|2021
| Rivers & Rust
|"What a Waste"
| Cover art
|-
|2021
| Wandering X
|Life Expectancy
| Cover art
|-
|2021
| Joe Bonamassa
|Time Clocks
| Cover art
|-
|2021
| Carrie Newcomer
|Until Now
| Cover art
|-
|2021
| Fairy Tale
|That Is The Question
| Cover art
|-
|2021
| Dream Theater
|A View from the Top of the World
| Cover art
|-
|2021
| Benjamin Croft
|Far & Distant Things
| Cover art
|-
|2022
| Talas
|1985
| Cover art
|-
|2022
| Rush
|Moving Pictures (40th Anniversary)
| Art Direction and design
|-
|2022
| TRIBUTES
|Songs for Neil Vol. 3
| Cover art
|-
|2022
| Brother Dynamite
|If We Dare
| Cover art
|-
|2022
| Dane Clark
|Memory Mile
| Cover art
|-
|2022
| A-Z
|A-Z
| Cover art
|-
|2022
| SOMA
|Headed for the Zeros
| Cover art
|-
|2022
| Hilario Durán and David Virelles
|Front Street Duets
| Cover art
|-
|2023
| Arch Echo
|Final Pitch
| Artwork, Illustration, Design
|-
|2023
| Rush
|Signals (40th Anniversary)
| Artwork, Illustration, Design
|-
|2024
| Orion
|The Lightbringers
| Art direction, Design
|-
|2024
| Robert Jon & the Wreck
|Red Moon Rising
| Art direction, Design
|-
|2024
| Black Country Communion
|V
| Art direction, Illustration, Design
|-
|2025
| Dane Clark
|Guru's, Hitmen & Heaven
| Art direction, Illustration, Design
|-
|2025
| Dream Theater
|Parasomnia
| Cover art, album design
|-
|2025
| A-Z
|A-Z²
| Cover art
|}
Discography
Syme has contributed as a musician with Ian Thomas Band, Rush and Tiles.
with Ian Thomas Band
- Delights - piano, Fender Rhodes, Mellotron and background vocals
- Calabash - keyboards, background vocals and creative companionship and album cover artwork
- Still Here - keyboards and background vocals (co-arrangement on "I Really Love You" and "Tinkerbell")
- Glider - keyboards and all songs arranged with Ian Thomas
- The Runner - keyboards and background vocals
with Rush
- 2112 - ARP synthesizer intro to "2112: Overture" and Mellotron and ARP Odyssey on "Tears"
- Moving Pictures - synthesizers on "Witch Hunt"
- 1999: Best Album Design nomination - Different Stages by Rush, with Geddy Lee and Andrew MacNaughtan
- 1993: Best Album Design nomination - Dear Dear by 54-40
- 1992: Best Album Design nomination - Big House by Big House
- 1992: Best Album Design win - Roll the Bones by Rush
- 1991: Best Album Design nomination - Oceanview Motel by Mae Moore
- 1991: Best Album Design nomination - Snow in June by The Northern Pikes
- 1990: Best Album Design win - Presto by Rush
- 1990: Best Album Design nomination - Rockland by Kim Mitchell
- 1989: Best Album Graphics win - Levity by Ian Thomas
- 1986: Best Album Graphics nomination - Robot Man and Friends by Peter Shelly, with Heather Brown and Peter Shelly
- 1986: Best Album Graphics win - Power Windows by Rush, with Dimo Safari
- 1985: Best Album Graphics nomination - At the Feet of the Moon by Parachute Club, with Deborah Samuel
- 1983: Best Album Graphics nomination - Signals by Rush
- 1983: Best Album Graphics nomination - One False Move by Harlequin
- 1982: Best Album Graphics nomination - Exit...Stage Left by Rush, with Deborah Samuel
- 1982: Best Album Graphics win - Moving Pictures by Rush, with Deborah Samuel
- 1981: Best Album Graphics nomination - Lookin' for Trouble by Toronto, with Michael Gray
- 1978: Best Album Graphics nomination - A Farewell to Kings by Rush
Controversy and criticism
In 2011, MetalSucks reported Syme's artwork for Dream Theater's A Dramatic Turn of Events used the same clip art image as the band Circus Maximus's 2005 album The 1st Chapter.
Upon release of Dream Theater's Parasomnia album in 2025, allegations quickly emerged of Hugh Syme potentially double-selling artwork, as a piece of artwork contained in the Parasomnia deluxe edition appeared identical to a piece of Syme's artwork used in Orion's The Lightbringers, released six months prior on August 16, 2024.
References
External links
- Hugh Syme biography
- Hugh Syme homepage
- Music Buzzz Podcast homepage
- Hugh's Premier Artists Collection (PAC) profile