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.

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
insect showing spiricles

Natural History Illustration: Insect anatomy

Posted on in Biological terminology: Definitions
Insects are my favourite creatures.  I love illustrating them in my natural science commissions.  Here’s a brief overview of the parts of  any insect which should help anyone doing entomological illustration. Insect overview Insects are invertebrates; they sport an external skeleton rather than internal bones.  Their limbs are jointed, they’re cold-blooded, have six legs and […] Read more
ruskin

Inspirations – John Ruskin

Posted on in Scientific Illustrator out and about
A recent talk on the botanical illustrations created by John Ruskin was informative and inspirational. The Ruskin Library Illustrations by John Ruskin are from the fascinating collection at the Ruskin Library, Lancaster University, which is open to the public. In a full hall in Gloucestershire, members of IAPI (Institute for Analytical Plant Illustrators) and the Gloucestershire Society for Botanical […] Read more
grasses

Grass Class

Posted on in Scientific Illustrator out and about
Scientific illustration often involves hours of sitting alone, staring at plants through a hand lens.  Getting out, especially spending time with like minded people who share your interests is a tonic. IAPI organise a Grasses day out IAPI (the institute for analytical plant illustration) is a fabulous organisation for botanists, botanical illustrators, and anyone interested in these […] Read more
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