floral Archives - Lizzie Harper

Sketchbook illustrations of Invasive Plants

Posted on 3rd July 2020 in Current projects and news

I’ve recently completed work on a series of sketchbook illustrations of invasive plants. The client is FOR Sweden, and the botanical illustrations will be used on a big poster at a horticulture conference. Project overview There are eleven plants in total, and each species needed certain aspects illustrating. In all cases I need to supply […] 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

Flora Margarine in Sweden

Posted on 3rd January 202023rd March 2020 in Current projects and news

Flora Margarine Repackaged Flora in Sweden have recently re-designed their packaging. And I’m more than excited to say that the new margarine tubs and associated products feature my illustrations of White and Red clover! The new designs have been done by Pond Design for Unilever, and I think they look really good. There’s a […] 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

Botanical Illustration: Working from Photo reference

Posted on 10th July 201513th December 2018 in Illustration techniques

As a natural history illustrator, you often get asked to complete botanical illustrations of plants which aren’t in season, or bloom. This is where sketchbooks, filled with notes prove invaluable. But what if you’re asked to illustrate a botanical subject you’ve not got notes on, and which you can’t get hold of? Use a photo. […] Read more

Illustrating a Butterfly Bouquet

Posted on 6th March 20157th December 2018 in Zoological step by step

I’m often asked to combine botanical art with scientific illustration. This butterfly with bouquet wings took this to a new level! Begin by drawing your Butterfly The client sent me a rough visual, and asked me to combine features of a butterfly with a Victorian style bouquet. Species and details were up to me. Well, […] Read more