flowers Archives - Page 2 of 2

Botanical Illustration of a Japanese Rose

Posted on 15th May 202015th May 2020 in Botanical Illustration step by step

In my last blog, Botanical illustration of Rose leaves, I discussed the processes involved in completing a botanical study of the leaves of the Japanese Rose, Rosa rugosa. This blog will focus on the flower. This sketchbook study was completed for FOR Sweden, and is one of a series of 12 invasive species illustrated. As […] Read more

Botanical Illustration of Rose Leaves

Posted on 1st May 202015th May 2020 in Botanical Illustration step by step

A recent job involved illustrating the Japanese Rose, Rosa rugosa. It’s not the first time this plant has been commissioned, and I’ve done blogs in the past on my approach to illustrating other roses and this very flower. It’s one of a series of invasive plants that were completed for FOR Sweden, and this week’s […] Read more

Jersey Post: Illustrating Thrift

Posted on 3rd April 2020 in Current projects and news, Illustration techniques

In February, my series of Coastal Flower postage stamps were published by Jersey Post. The presentation pack featured a cliff-top scene in amongst clouds of thrift. This blog explains how I did my best to capture both the flowers and the landscape behind. (All illustrations in this post are copyright Jersey Stamps 2020.) For more […] Read more

Jersey Post: Coastal Flowers Stamp issue

Posted on 20th March 202020th March 2020 in Current projects and news, Showcase of themed natural history illustrations

Jersey Post recently brought out their “Coastal Flowers: Post and Go” stamp issue, which I was lucky enough to have illustrated. (All illustrations in this blog are copyright Jersey Post 2020). Illustrating stamps Each stamp issue involves illustrating six stamps, a presentation pack, an envelope for the First Day Cover, and a date stamp. This […] 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

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

Pen and Ink Illustrations of Tree Details

Posted on 11th October 201911th October 2019 in Illustration techniques, Showcase of themed natural history illustrations

The Living Wisdom of Trees: Commission In the summer, I completed lots of pen and ink illustrations of trees and their details for “The Living Wisdom of Trees” by Fred Hageneder. The commission involved illustrating fully grown trees, along with details specific to each species such as blossom, leaves, or fruit. I’ve written a […] Read more

Flower Shapes: Terminology

Posted on 1st February 2019 in botanical terms

There are a whole load of different botanical terms used to describe flower shapes. In this blog, I’ll go through a few, explaining what the term means. Ill try to find one of my botanical illustrations to demonstrate each shape. Could be a challenge! This chart of flowers of walks and the wayside shows a […] Read more

Pansy step by step sketchbook study

Posted on 10th May 201811th January 2019 in Botanical Illustration step by step

Pansies and violas are one of the loveliest garden plants to study through botanical illustration; they’re also common, affordable, and quite easy to paint. This blog will talk you through the basic steps in completing a sketchbook study of a viola or pansy. For lots more of my botanical illustration step by steps, click here. […] Read more

Illustrating a Honey Label

Posted on 16th February 201810th January 2019 in Zoological step by step

I love it when I’m asked to produce botanical illustrations and natural history paintings for packaging. That was the case for this honey label. It’s a different side to what I do and I find the change refreshing and challenging. Sleeping Bear Honey Farm in the USA have commissioned me before to produce artwork for their […] Read more

Flower Anatomy workshop

Posted on 1st September 20179th January 2019 in Painting workshops

Why learn botany? I recently taught a workshop at the wonderful Walled Garden in Treberfydd on flower anatomy. I think it’s vital for botanical illustrations to be well-informed about their subject matter. To this end I think botanical illustrators need to learn some of the basics of how flowering plants are put together. One of the best […] Read more

Illustration workshop at Cambridge Botanic Gardens

Posted on 10th March 20174th January 2019 in Painting workshops

This week I had the good fortune to be asked to teach a course of botanical illustration for beginners, at the Cambridge University Botanic Gardens. I planned the day’s course, taking elements from past sessions of painting workshops. Preparing for the class I was so impressed by the classroom preparation and friendly welcome from the staff. […] Read more

Botanical Illustration Workshop: The Walled Garden

Posted on 31st May 201619th December 2018 in Painting workshops

Every now and then I run botanical illustration workshops, teaching the accuracy, drawing, and observation skills required in natural history illustration. Recently I led a one-day course at The Walled Garden in Treberfydd. All the admin was done by the wonderful Alison (who also provided delicious cakes decorated with sweet cicely as the students arrived, and […] Read more

Biolblitz at Llanbwchllyn Lake

Posted on 3rd July 201513th December 2018 in Scientific Illustrator out and about

As a natural history illustrator, it’s inevitable that I’m passionate about wildlife. Wildlife close to home is especially appealing, so when my local Wildlife Trust, RWT offered a “Focus on Nature Bioblitz at Llanbwychllyn Lake” I had to go along. I love the wildlife trusts, and this is a perfect example of why. What is a bioblitz? “Bioblitz” […] Read more

leaf, leaf attachment, flowers, botany, botanical terms, leaves, veins, venation,

Botanical Illustration: Late flowering plants

Posted on 6th December 201326th November 2018 in Showcase of themed natural history illustrations

Winter closes in, and many of the plants I need to illustrate for The Cultivated Forager (follow up to The Hedgerow Handbook, also by Adele Nozedar) are no longer much use as they are bearing neither flowers nor berries. Flowers which are still in bloom However, I was surprised to notice various plants which are most definitely in flower, […] Read more

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Step by step sketchbook study of a rose

Posted on 12th July 201315th November 2018 in Botanical Illustration step by step

I recently did a botanical illustration sketchbook study of a rose for a natural history illustration project I’m working on. This proved really tricky; partly because the flower and foliage were very dense and lush, but mostly because by the end the rose had shed all its petals! Step 1: Set up the Rose and […] Read more

Botanical illustration tips on painting white flowers

Posted on 15th February 201311th January 2019 in Illustration techniques

Painting White flowers: A problem needing a solution I was painting a snowdrop the other day, and wrestling, as always, with the best way to paint the petals of white flowers. There are as many different approaches to this troublesome aspect of botanical illustration as there are scientific illustrators; so I thought it’d be worth […] Read more