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 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
euglena

Marvellous micro-organisms 3: Euglena

Posted on in Showcase of themed natural history illustrations
This final blog on micro-organisms, features the Euglena.  Like the Ameoba and Paramecium, the euglena is a free-living unicellular organism. Introduction to the Euglena It is found in fresh water (often in puddles or ponds) and differs from ameoba and paramecium in being able to photosynthesize, and so produce its own source of food.  The euglena appears green […] Read more

Marvellous micro-organisms 2: Paramecium

Posted on in Showcase of themed natural history illustrations
Natural history illustration involves painting plants, animals, and other wonders of the natural world.  Micro-organisms fall under this umbrella, and although extremely small they are still deserving of our attention (and illustrations).  Last week I looked at the Ameoba.  This week it’s the turn of the Paramecium. Introduction to the Paramecium Like the amoeba, the Paramecium […] Read more
anoeba

Marvellous micro-organisms 1: Amoeba

Posted on in Showcase of themed natural history illustrations
Scientific illustration involves drawing all sorts of natural history specimens; botanical, animal, and even microscopic.  In this series of three blogs I’ll give a brief introduction to three common (and very cool) micro-organisms.  The first is the Amoeba. Amoeba: an introduction Amoeba are free-living aquatic creatures, and can be seen in any drop of standing […] Read more

The Ovary in Botany

Posted on in botanical terms
Botanical illustrators have to understand the terminology that applies to their subject matter. This includes knowing about the ovary.   All of my illustrations for this blog are taken from The Garden Forager by Adele Nozedar.  (See more on my Pinterest site.) Re-cap of the basic botany of flowers Following on from my blog about Botany terms; this week […] Read more

Illustrating the Amazing Blue Butterfly

Posted on in Showcase of themed natural history illustrations
Scientific illustration involves learning about your subjects, as well as illustrating them.  I’ve always been amazed by  blue butterflies (family Lycaenidae). I love their vivid hues and  their fascinating life-cycles.  Their interactions with ants amaze me. Blue butterflies Most of the information in this blog comes from the website of Butterfly Conservation.  This charity is concerned with recording […] Read more

Pembrokeshire coastal plants

Posted on in Scientific Illustrator out and about
Walking on the Coastal path in Pembrokeshire makes for a wonderful break.  Natural history illustrators go on holiday too.  This is where they find their inspiration.  I was just treated to a glorious weekend of walking, and looking at the coastal flowers. The Pembrokeshire Coastal Path We walk from Manorbier to Barafundle beach.  This stretch is gorgeous, taking in […] Read more
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