Jules Verne (1828-1905) was a French novelist and playwright best known for his epic adventures, including Twenty Thousand Leagues under the Sea, Journey to the Center of the Earth, and Around the World in Eighty Days.

A true visionary and master storyteller, Verne foresaw the skyscraper, the submarine, and the airplane, among many other inventions, and he is often regarded as the 'Father of Science Fiction.'

Illustrator Scott McKowen has created award-winning posters and graphics for theater companies across Canada and the United States including on Broadway.

His work has been exhibited in art galleries on both sides of the border, and in 2002 he curated an exhibition of theater posters from around the world that appeared in Stratford, Ontario, and Ottawa and at the Design Exchange in Toronto.

Scott was also commissioned by the Royal Canadian Mint to design Canada's 2001 silver dollar. Scott lives in Stratford, Ontario.