decorative Archives - Lizzie Harper

Illustrating Bracken and Ferns

Posted on 6th August 20218th May 2023 in botanical terms, Illustration techniques, Showcase of themed natural history illustrations

Illustrating bracken and ferns may seem to be a really difficult job. However, the challenge lies in the drawing, not in adding the colour. I recently completed an illustration of Bracken Pteridium aquilinum for a forthcoming Field Studies Council Guide to the flora of Woodlands. I thought this was the perfect chance to explain the […] Read more

halophytes Coastal seaside plant flowers

Halophytes: Salt Tolerant Plants

Posted on 6th March 202029th September 2022 in Biological terminology: Definitions, botanical terms

Halophytes: Salt Tolerant Plants Halophytes are plants that tolerate or thrive in salty conditions. I recently finished the illustrations for a chart of seaside flowers, and got to wondering how these plants can survive in these hostile habitats? Another job, illustrating stamps for a Seaside flowers issue, added to my interest. This blog had me […] Read more

Coastal Flowers: Illustrating a Flower Guide

Posted on 21st February 202016th March 2022 in Current projects and news

I’ve recently completed a series of thirty three botanical illustrations of coastal flowers for Field Studies Council Publications. What I love about these jobs is the enormous amount you learn about species you may never have noticed before. In this blog, I’m going to showcase a few of these lovely plants, and what seaside habitats […] Read more

Illustration and Packaging

Posted on 7th February 20207th February 2020 in Illustration techniques

Illustration and packaging have always gone hand in hand. By their very nature, paintings of animals and flowers are decorative as well as informative. This blog sets out to show some of the diversity of packaging my illustrations have appeared on. I also hope to show how clever the designers are, and the difference you […] Read more

What’s the difference between Virginia creeper and False Virginia creeper?

Posted on 18th April 2019 in Botany: Telling species apart

Virginia creeper Parthenocissus quinquefolia and False Virginia creeper Parthenocissus inserta are common and decorative. They are favourites with gardeners, who train them to grow up walls of houses and pubs where they give cover and autumn colour. They’re vigorous climbers, deciduous, perennial, and develop woody stems. They are also classed as an invasive plant species […] Read more

Step by Step: False Virginia Creeper

Posted on 22nd February 20195th April 2019 in Botanical Illustration step by step

Whenever I paint a plant, I tend to use the same approach. This blog is a step by step look at how I paint the False Virginia Creeper, Parthenoccissus inserta. Pencil Rough Once you’ve assembled your reference (preferably from life as it’s much easier than working from photos), draw up a pencil rough. This needs […] Read more

Illustrating Long-tail tits and Cyclamen

Posted on 6th May 201618th December 2018 in Botanical Illustration step by step

A recent natural history and botanical illustration commission has been one of my favourite jobs of the year. Coming up with ideas The painting is for a 90th birthday, and needed to include an array of meaningful plants and animals. The client and I shared a cup of tea, and came up with some ideas which […] Read more

Natural history illustration, decoration, decorative,

Natural History Illustration for decoration: Cards and Gift Wrap

Posted on 31st May 201314th November 2018 in Showcase of themed natural history illustrations

Scientific illustration often results in beautiful imagery; and there’s a lot of joy to be gained from knowing that every hair on the stem of a plant or every vein in a dragonfly wing is in the correct place. A lot of the glory of nature is to be found in its details, and this […] Read more