Scientific Illustrator out and about Archives

Grasses in Cambridge Collections: Combating grass blindness

Posted on 10th April 202622nd April 2026 in Scientific Illustrator out and about, Showcase of themed natural history illustrations

Grasses in Cambridge Collections: Combating grass blindness discusses an amazing day I spent recently, looking at herbarium specimens and illustrations of grasses held in Cambridge collections. The collections were gorgeous, but the accompanying talks and interchange of ideas will leave the longest lasting impression. Guinea grass Megathyrsus maximus As many who read this blog regularly […] Read more

Pribby: A Montserrat endemic

Posted on 15th August 2025 in Scientific Illustrator out and about

Pribby Rondeletia buxifolia (sometimes called Pribbery) is a member of the coffee family. It grows wild only on the Caribbean island of Montserrat. This is one of the plant species I most wanted to see when visiting for work in February 2025. What does Pribby look like? Pribby is a shrub, sometimes used for hedging, […] Read more

Beatrix Potter: Illustrator and Inspiration

Posted on 11th November 202216th February 2023 in Scientific Illustrator out and about, Showcase of themed natural history illustrations

Beatrix Potter is known to people the world over as the creator of the Peter Rabbit books. These are indeed wonderful, but there’s so much more to explore. This blog examines a little of the extraordinary skill and illustrative mastery of this Victorian writer and illustrator, thanks to a recent visit to the Beatrix Potter: […] Read more

Natural History Illustration and Life Long Learning: The Field Studies Council

Posted on 19th October 2022 in Current projects and news, Scientific Illustrator out and about

Natural History Illustration and Life-long learning: Field Studies Council Courses is my blog all about how much I love the FSC courses I attend. And no, they’ve not paid me to wax lyrical, honest! I draw and paint a wide range of different species for publishers, charities, packaging, ad companies, and design agencies. I am […] Read more

Cowberry original watercolour illustration for sale

Cannock Chase Museum: Exploring botany

Posted on 30th October 202130th October 2021 in Scientific Illustrator out and about

Cannock Chase Museum: Botany Cannock Chase museum was our destination on a recent field trip with the wonderful group IAPI (Institute for Analytical Plant illustration). The Chase is in the West Midlands, near Birmingham. The museum is a treasure trove of information about the area’s coal mining past, history of breeding racehorses, role as a […] Read more

Gardening: An Eco-Friendly Lawn by Gus Stewart

Posted on 21st September 20187th May 2019 in Scientific Illustrator out and about

This blog is guest-written by Gus Stewart, who generously wrote another blog on the importance of bees recently. In light of the hot, dry weather we had here in the UK at the start of the summer, here are his tips for the garden for the next time the weather burns hot. All illustrations by me, Lizzie. Maintaining […] Read more

Telling Bluebell species apart

Posted on 15th May 201819th April 2022 in botanical terms, Botany: Telling species apart, Scientific Illustrator out and about

May is Bluebell time! May is a really wonderful month for botanical illustration; all the spring flowers are in bloom and there’s almost too many subjects to illustrate! I always like to visit our local bluebell woods at this time of year, and thought it might be an idea to write a blog on how […] Read more

Botanical illustration: Sedges Workshop

Posted on 8th September 20179th January 2019 in Scientific Illustrator out and about

In my career as a botanical illustrator, I sometimes come across whole groups of plants or animals that I know very little about. The sedges fall into this category, a fact which became increasingly clear to me as I completed a whole swathe of these plants for the Field Studies Council’s leaflets. I managed to complete […] Read more

Botanical Illustration trip: Breckland flora

Posted on 18th August 20179th January 2019 in Scientific Illustrator out and about

A recent field trip to Norfolk with a botany group I’m a member of, the Institute for Analytical Plant Illustration (IAPI), was a wonderful way to spend a hot July weekend. Poring over plants in the sun, and doing sketchbook botanical illustrations of the Breckland flora on site. What’s not to love? For more on […] Read more

Botanical Illustration trip: Wicken Fen

Posted on 10th July 20179th January 2019 in Scientific Illustrator out and about

I recently went on a botany fieldtrip to Norfolk with the Institute for Analytical Plant Illustration (IAPI). It was a fabulous way to spend a sunny July weekend, and to discover a whole new area of Britain. Wicken Fen and land management Our first day was an exploration of Wicken Fen. This is a gorgeous nature […] Read more

Slugs: Workshop on slug identification

Posted on 7th July 20179th January 2019 in Scientific Illustrator out and about

Why slugs? As a botanical illustrator who does lots of natural history illustrations too, it’s important to learn about the animals and plants I get asked to draw. I realised recently that not only did I know almost nothing about slugs, but I also had never done a decent illustration of one. One of only […] Read more

Starting out as an illustrator: Advice and resources

Posted on 10th January 20172nd July 2020 in Scientific Illustrator out and about

As a practicing natural history and botanical illustrator, I sometimes get asked to give advice to those starting out as illustrators, or considering this as a career path. This happened recently, when I went and spoke to a group of illustration students at Hereford College of Art and Design. Here, in a nutshell, is what I […] Read more

Botanical Illustration Live: Hawthorn

Posted on 3rd November 201619th December 2018 in Scientific Illustrator out and about

I recently did botanical illustration live for an audience at the Metripole Hotel in Llandrindod. The event was the annual Barnes lecture, It’s organised as a fundraiser for Radnorshire Wildlife Trust (RWT), and is open to members and non-members. The success of “The Hedgerow Handbook” and “The Garden Forager” means Adele Nozedar (the author) and I (the illustrator) have […] Read more

Primary school drawing workshop

Posted on 29th July 201619th December 2018 in Scientific Illustrator out and about

I am a natural history illustrator and botanical artist. But I’m also a parent. Sometimes I get asked to go into our local Hay-on-Wye Primary School and draw with the children. Recently I visited year 1 to draw “mini-beasts”. This was a similar workshop to one I did at Hay school a year ago. I’ve got a […] Read more

Illustrate and forage: Eat what you paint!

Posted on 20th May 201619th December 2018 in Scientific Illustrator out and about

Recently I took an edible plants identification chart I’d done the natural history illustrations for on a walk, to test it out with friends. I’ve written blogs on foraging before as it’s something I do a fair amount of, but this “road test” of one of my i.d. charts was a first. FSC Guide to Edible Plants On a forage for […] Read more

The Ups and Downs of an Illustration Career

Posted on 29th January 20169th September 2021 in Scientific Illustrator out and about

Life as an illustrator I am, and have been, a free-lance natural history and botanical illustrator for about 20 years now; and it is by no means an easy career path to plough. However, in today’s blog I’m going to explain some of the drawbacks, then show why being an overworked and underpaid illustrator is, […] Read more

Foraging with Adele Nozedar

Posted on 2nd October 201517th June 2022 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

Illustrating at the New Naturalist Symposium

Posted on 14th August 201514th December 2018 in Scientific Illustrator out and about

Being a natural history illustrator means you need to draw wildlife, plants, and animals. You also need to market yourself. One of the less painful ways to do this is to attend events such as the biannual “New Naturalist Symposium“, this year held at the Oxford Museum of Natural History. What are the New Naturalist titles? […] Read more

Natural History Illustration at Art in Action

Posted on 24th July 201513th December 2018 in Scientific Illustrator out and about

I was honored and delighted to be asked to join the Calligraphers and Illustrators this year at Art in Action. It’s an annual event at Waterperry Gardens near Oxford. Being a demonstrator gives me the chance to sell my original illustrations and cards to the thousands of visitors who attend this amazing event. I also got to demonstrate how […] Read more

Biolblitz at Llanbwchllyn Lake

Posted on 3rd July 201513th December 2018 in Scientific Illustrator out and about

As a natural history illustrator, it’s inevitable that I’m passionate about wildlife. Wildlife close to home is especially appealing, so when my local Wildlife Trust, RWT offered a “Focus on Nature Bioblitz at Llanbwychllyn Lake” I had to go along. I love the wildlife trusts, and this is a perfect example of why. What is a bioblitz? “Bioblitz” […] Read more

Illustrating at the National Botanic Garden of Wales

Posted on 26th June 201513th December 2018 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

Crickhowell Art Trail

Posted on 12th June 201513th December 2018 in Scientific Illustrator out and about

Taking part in Crickhowell Art Trail It’s been a busy few weeks for this natural history illustrator. Hay Festival, demonstrating at the National Botanic Gardens of Wales (more of which next week), and illustrating and meeting the public during Crickhowell Art Trail. Bookish is a wonderful independent book shop in Crickhowell. They asked me to be […] Read more

Doing Botanical Illustration at Hay Festival

Posted on 28th May 201513th December 2018 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

Birds on the run

Posted on 20th March 201510th December 2018 in Scientific Illustrator out and about

Although I spend much of my time doing natural history illustration, botanical drawing, science art, and natural science illustration I also do my best to try and keep fit. This is made a great deal easier thanks to the beautiful town where I live, Hay on Wye in the Welsh borders. One of my favourite jogs is […] Read more