common Archives - Lizzie Harper

Grasses of Montserrat and the Eastern Caribbean

Posted on 6th November 2025 in Botany: Telling species apart, Showcase of themed natural history illustrations

I was recently commissioned to illustrate some common grasses of Montserrat and the Eastern Caribbean by UKOTCF. As regular readers will know, this is something of a dream job for me. I first illustrated grasses way back in 2014, for the HarperCollins Flower Guide by David Streeter. Not knowing that I was planting the seeds […] Read more

Spotted Flycatcher step by step

Posted on 24th January 202317th February 2023 in Illustration techniques, Zoological step by step

Spotted Flycatchers Muscicapa striata are lovely birds, often overlooked because of their seemingly dull grey and brown plumage. They are one of the species I was recently commissioned to illustrate for a wildlife information board at Cusop churchyard; so I decided to do a step-by-step blog (and accompanying film) of the process. When I illustrate […] Read more

Natural history illustrations of Dragonflies

Posted on 27th June 201430th November 2018 in Showcase of themed natural history illustrations

Following on from my natural science entomological illustrations of damselflies last week; this week I’ll be looking at common British dragonflies. I really learnt to love these amazing animals whilst working on a series of postage stamps for Jersey Post (see my blog on this “dream job“); and this affection continues. Identifying dragonflies Dragonflies are glorious insects, […] Read more

Fox Vulpes vulpes with Badgers Meles meles natural history illustration by Lizzie Harper

Wildlife encounters on the doorstep

Posted on 14th February 201427th November 2018 in Scientific Illustrator out and about

As a natural science illustrator, I spend my working life surrounded with bits of wildlife. Plants, boxes of insects, and endless books and photos of animal reference. Whenever I can I work from live specimens I do (and my freezer will testify to the dead specimens I have on hand…). Tight deadlines and practicalities often […] Read more