I visited my best friend tonight (spicehobbit) and just remembered what the artist is called! :-D Alan Lee! THAT'S his name! And if you do a google search on his name and LotR artwork, you'll see just what I mean with the design-team taking much inspiration from his work.

Image-google search using the words: lord of the rings alan lee (http://www.google.se/search?q=lord+of+the+rings+alan+lee&hl=sv&client=firefox-a&hs=q2a&rls=org.mozilla:sv-SE:official&prmd=imvnso&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=tANQT4qUPIqK4gTcgri7DQ&ved=0CCcQsAQ&biw=1680&bih=894&sei=3ANQT4rhC6354QTFyYmsDQ)

See what I mean? :-D