As a palaeoartist, his influences have included Zdeněk Burian, Rudolph Zallinger, Doug Henderson, Mauricio Antón, and Peter Trusler.

[1] Sibbick's 1980s and early 1990s palaeoart made him famous for his reconstructions of prehistoric life, particularly since they were published in accessible and popular books, one of the most notable of which were Norman's The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Dinosaurs (1985).

[5] In terms of palaeoart, Sibbick has produced artwork for popular books, academic works, magazines such as National Geographic and GEO, museums, and exhibitions.

[7] Sibbick's colour work is executed in gouache on artist's board, and often benefits from the production of detailed preparatory sketches and even 3D models for reference.

[7] When commissioned for artwork on a prehistoric animal, Sibbick begins with examining the fossil evidence and consulting specialists, whereafter he produces sketches of anatomy, surface detail and behavior before working on the actual painting.

[5] Sibbick's 1980s and early 1990s work was in terms of anatomy influenced by interpretations of earlier artists, such as Charles R. Knight and Burian, which means that some of it was outdated at the time it was made.

John Sibbick's iconic cover sets the stage well, with a double dose of mohawks telegraphing a certain amount of 'in-your-face' punk rock attitude inside.