book illustration

Grey Hen press commissioned a selection of monochrome illustrations for their “Renewable Energy” poetry anthology anthology

This book is based on the successful BBC World Service podcast, this book explains how animals have inspired human ingenuity and invention.  Find out how mosquito mouthparts make less painful hypodermic syringes, how fuel injection systems are more efficient thanks to the example of the Bombadier beetle, how mussels have helped foetal surgery, kingfisher beaks made bullet trains more efficient, and the properties of shark skin that have led to more hygienic hospital surfaces.

The illustrations were of the animals, and of the inventions they inspired, and as such were technically challenging.  It’s a fascinating book, with hundreds of “Oh WoW!” moments, and I’m very pleased to be associated with the project

Life on Our Planet required eight detailed pen and ink illustrations, reflecting animals and plants that Sir David Attenborough discusses in this important and timely text.  There was also a map to complete.

Many of the illustrations were straight forward, however reconstructing the extinct Tarpan horse, and fitting the enormous bulk of a Blue whale and the height of Giant kelp onto one sheet posed their own peculiar challenges.

This is the most prestigious of all the titles I have worked on, and I am extremely proud to be associated with this publication.

The Living Wisdom of Trees required More than 120 detailed pen and ink illustrations of trees and details of each species, from the Acaccia to the Willow (and everything in between).  Published February 2020.