natural history illustration

Rough bent grass Agrostis scabra with details of spikelet and ligule

Little Bluestem grass Schizachryium scoparium including roots

Anopheles gambiae African Malaria mosquito unfed female, posing in typical diagonal position

Larva of Anopheles gambiae Malaria mosquito showing typical position, parallel to the water surface

Pupa of Anopheles mosquito based on Anopheles gambiae at water surface

Feeding African Malaria Mosquito Anopheles gambiae showing stylets as she feeds, and swollen belly with tergites forced apart and excess liquid excreted during feeding

African Malaria Mosquito Life cycle Anopheles gambiae

Giant Hogweed Heracleum mantegazzianum showing red spotted stems and variable leaf shape

Cannock chase berry Vaccinium x inermedium V. myrtillus x V. vitis-idaea

Sprig of this iconic spring plant with pussy willow catkins coming into flower. Catkins appear before leaves emerge.

Male Emperor dragonfly cut to white showing distinctive green and turquoise colouring

Male Pied flycatcher in amongst leaves of the English oak Quercus robur

Poplar Hawk Moth Laothoe populi cut to white with wings at rest held in typical position for this species

Ideal garden full of things you can do to encourage nature and promote soil health in your garden For more please check out my blog, and the associated blog on how NOT to have an ideal garden.

Potato Plant in flower with potatoes growing below the soil.  Plant has grown from a chitted potato.

Hedgerows encourage birds, mammals, and insects and are easy to integrate into a garden.  this Swedish garden scene shows this priniciple.

Illustrations showing a garden with closely cropped grass, a lot of hard surfaces, few trees and shrubs, and non-native annuals which don’t support pollinators.  For more please check out my blog  and the associated blog, on how to take steps to having an ideal garden.

Great burnet Sanguisorba officinalis with detail of individual flower

Potatoes in sack shows a batch of newly dug potatoes in a hessian sack, with some rolling out.

Potato varieries and one green potato about to sprout

Sketchbook study of the Potato showing different varieties, flower colours, the fruit, and how to chit potatoes.  With written notes.

Potato Food Products: Chips or French fries, sliced, boiled, baked potatoes, potato chips or crisps

Black oil beetle Meloe proscarabaeus showing distinctive abdominal shape and antennae.

Spotted flycatcher Muscicapa striata perched on a gravestone, eating a beetle.  Completed for Cusop Churchyard nature panel.