Ian Fleming's side of the story is somewhat different. The author appeared very pleased with Chopping's work on FROM RUSSIA, WITH LOVE and in a 1956 letter to the artist said: “Of one thing I am certain. Your picture will vastly help to sell the book”. Fleming also sent the artist a copy inscribed  “To Dickie Chopping - The Executioner - From Ian”.

Richard Chopping claimed that he found it hard to work after the success of the films: “I was quite fond of doing the early work, but it became a bore and I hate the books. I don’t like the violence. There is enough violence in the world without needing to make it glamorous”.

His resentment towards Ian Fleming grew to the extent that he even went so far as to sell many of his inscribed first editions for the relatively small sum of £1,000. These books later realised over £40,000 in a 2002 auction at CHRISTIE'S New York.

After Ian Fleming's death in 1964, Richard Chopping illustrated the superb wraparound cover for THE MAN WITH THE GOLDEN GUN (1965) [pictured above] and the 1966 short story anthology OCTOPUSSY AND THE LIVING DAYLIGHTS before embarking upon a short-lived career as an author in his own right. His two novels The Fly (1965) and The Ring (1967) about about the dark homosexual underworld of 1960s London, enjoyed some success on both sides of the Atlantic.

In 1981 Richard Chopping painted his last James Bond cover when he executed Mon Mohan's design for John Gardner's debut 007 novel LICENCE RENEWED.