[Kirby]

Hobbit lists him as well ;) (with a name like Hobbit, I should hope so! :D)

Actually, what Wynnyelle said also rings true for me. I'm still "practising", but it is my ambition to illustrate a book of my own. (like Froud's "Goblins" and "Faeries" and Gurney's "Dinotopia")
I have the characters - my illustration skills are not quite at a "finished art" level though. (I find sketching more comfortable, but would love to have the skill of rendering that Howe does.)

[Abby]

It's got to be a tie between
Donato Giancola (http://www.donatoart.com/)
and Justin Sweet (http://www.justinsweet.com/) .

If you haven't seen their amazing work, you're missing out!

As for Keith Parkinson... he's a very good artist, but I don't like the way his women always look like '80's TV stars.
And Michael Whelan... very good, but overused.
I would like a fresh look for my cover art.
(and yes, I am an aspiring writer) :D

[Carmichael]

Hell, I'd do my own cover art. Get paid twice as it were. Failing that, Frank Frazetta or Larry Elmore.