Here are the blogs I’ve written over the years.  Subjects range from step by step painting tutorials, to botanical anatomy, to current projects.

They appear in the order they’ve been written.  However, if you scroll down the page you’ll find they have also been organised into categories to make browsing a little more focused.

There are even some guest blogs in amongst.  I hope you enjoy them, and do please feel free to leave a comment.

hazel

Botanical Illustration: Step by step Hazel

Posted on in Botanical Illustration step by step
I’ve recently started painting up some botanical illustrations for FSC Publications, including the Hazel Corylus avellena.  I worked for FSC before, on the Caring For Gods Acre illustrations). One that I knew would take some time, but was seasonally appropriate, was the Hazel Corylus avellana.  I drew the leaves and nuts from reference gleaned from a local hedge, and […] Read more
Adele Nozedar

Foraging with Adele Nozedar

Posted on in Scientific Illustrator out and about
Despite supplying botanical illustrations for the natural history foraging classic “Hedgerow Handbook” by Adele Nozedar, and doing events together (such as at the National Botanic Gardens of Wales) I’d never had the chance to go foraging with her…until Monday. Cover of “The Hedgerow Handbook” by Adele Nozedar (illustrated by me) A beautiful sunny autumn afternon saw a large group […] Read more
drawing at the botanic gardens

Illustrating at the National Botanic Garden of Wales

Posted on in Scientific Illustrator out and about
My botanical illustrations have just appeared in The Garden Forager by Adele Nozedar, so we were honoured to be invited to the National Botanic Gardens of Wales to celebrate its launch.  We also took part in a foraging weekend. Setting up in the Botanic Garden’s Glasshouse The event was based in the glorious glasshouse, and I have rarely been prouder […] Read more

Illustrating Invasive Plant Species

Posted on in Showcase of themed natural history illustrations
Natural history illustrators have to do natural science and botanical illustrations of both beneficial and of problematic invasive species. Many times, the reason a plant or animal is causing problems within an ecosystem is because it doesn’t belong in that system.   It hasn’t evolved in equilibrium with the other species there, and thus out-competes them.  […] Read more
Hay festival book signing

Doing Botanical Illustration at Hay Festival

Posted on in Scientific Illustrator out and about
Natural history illustrators are not used to being in the public eye; so the idea of drawing botanical illustrations live at Hay Festival of Literature had been making me nervous for some time.  However, I’m proud of the illustrations in Adele Nozedar’s book “The Garden Forager” and since we’re good friends, thought it would be fine to “perform” […] Read more
nature reserve detail of map

Illustrating a Nature Reserve map

Posted on in Illustration techniques
I am often lucky enough to work with the Wildlife Trusts UK, creating scientific illustrations and botanical illustrations for their interpretation boards and leaflets.  A while back, Staffordshire Wildlife trust and (separately) Berks, Bucks & Oxon Wildlife Trust started comissioning maps from me. These are quite tricky to do as they have to be correct and clear; and all the […] Read more

Illustrating lower plants in a churchyard

Posted on in Current projects and news
Natural history subjects to draw and paint abound.  Many relish the tranquility of the British churchyard.  The Field Studies Council know this, and have recently commissioned my botanical illustrations for a fold out chart. Lower plants love the damp stone of a churchyard.  You find many ferns across the UK in churchyards and cemeteries, including this Hart’s […] Read more
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