sketchbook study Archives

Botanical Illustration of a Sycamore Leaf

Posted on 11th December 202011th December 2020 in Botanical Illustration step by step, Illustration techniques

This blog follows on from my earlier step by step post on drawing a Sycamore leaf, which also has an accompanying youtube film. Apologies for the grey background on some of the photos. The final piece (at the end of a blog) shows a truer version of the colours. Setting up When you’re about to […] Read more

Comparing Common and Japanese Hops

Posted on 16th October 202016th October 2020 in Botany: Telling species apart

A recent job involved highlighting differences between the Japanese hop Humulus japonicus, and the Common hop Humulus lupulus. Sketchbook study of the Common hop Overview of Hop plants Hops are members of the Cannabaceae family, and are native to the Northern hemisphere. There are three species of hop, and any number of varieties of the Common […] Read more

Comparing Goldenrod Species

Posted on 28th August 202028th August 2020 in Botany: Telling species apart

Comparing Goldenrod species was one of my tasks in a recent commission for a Horticultural company in Sweden. All the illustrations were sketchbook studies. Every plant was an invasive. Overview of Canadian Goldenrod Solidago canadensis and Early Goldenrod Solidago gigantea The focus of the illustration is the Canadian goldenrod. Most Goldenrods are native to the […] Read more

Unexpected Thrills: Adventures of an Illustrator

Posted on 31st July 2020 in Uncategorised

Unexpected Thrills: Adventures of an Illustrator is a blog about some of the more unexpected events that have happened to me in the line of duty. Let’s take just three; The Lilac Debacle, Fear of the Buffalo, and Finding a Scab. The Lilac Debacle This exploit has a moral which, put simply, is Do Not […] Read more

Step by Step Rowan berry

Posted on 10th February 201912th February 2019 in Botanical Illustration step by step

If you’re doing a botanical illustration of a cluster of fruit, the first thing to do is figure out how to tackle one lone berry. In this case, it’s the beautiful bright orange Rowan berry that’s under the spotlight. I have a Rowan, or Mountain ash tree in my garden. Not only do the clusters […] Read more

Step by Step winter jasmine sketchbook study

Posted on 15th January 201922nd February 2019 in Botanical Illustration step by step

Winter jasmine, Jasminum nudiflorum, is one of the only flowers in bloom in Hay on Wye in January. I decided to do a sketchbook study of it, along with some notes on composition. Thinking about composition When you have a plant with a distinctive straggly shape, like the Winter jasmine, you want to consider how […] Read more

Japanese Knotweed: Botanical illustrations and diagrams

Posted on 14th January 201921st February 2019 in botanical terms, Current projects and news

My botanical illustrations and diagrams have recently been published in a book all about Japanese knotweed. It’s called “Japanese Knotweed: Unearthing the Truth” by Nicolas Seal , and is rather a fascinating tome. It was a fun job to work on, with a wide range of illustrations needing completing. The author saw a sketchbook study I’d done of […] Read more

Cowslip botanical illustration: Sketchbook study

Posted on 7th September 201814th January 2019 in Illustration techniques

Late this spring, I completed a private commission to illustrate the Cowslip, Primula veris, as if doing a sketchbook study. Sketckbook study sheet of the Cowslip These are almost my favourite sort of commission as I can spend time really getting to know the plant, examing it from different angles, dissecting out its structures, checking out […] 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

Botanical illustration: The Exploding Cucumber

Posted on 27th November 201514th December 2018 in Current projects and news

As a freelance natural history illustrator, I love the random nature of my commissions, and a recent request for some botanical sketchbook-style illustrations of the exploding cucumber Cyclanthera explodens was no exception. The request comes from a client working in the world of botanical cocktail research, so I was intrigued before I’d lifted a pencil. The exploding cucumber: An extraordinary […] Read more

Doing Botanical Illustration at Hay Festival

Posted on 28th May 201513th December 2018 in Scientific Illustrator out and about

Natural history illustrators are not used to being in the public eye; so the idea of drawing botanical illustrations live at Hay Festival of Literature had been making me nervous for some time. However, I’m proud of the illustrations in Adele Nozedar’s book “The Garden Forager” and since we’re good friends, thought it would be fine to “perform” […] Read more

Composition and sketchbook studies

Posted on 21st March 201427th November 2018 in Illustration techniques

Winter, and my natural history illustration work continues. There’s no problem sorting out composition and sketchbook studies if they’re of conifers, like this Douglas fir. Sketchbook studies: Composition Instead of examining the techniques involved in mixing colour, I thought it might be an idea to discuss composition. This is how a botanical subject sits […] Read more

Cytisus, Hedgerow handbook, flower painting, step by step, sxs,

Botanical Illustration: Sketchbook study of Broom

Posted on 7th June 201314th November 2018 in Botanical Illustration step by step

As a natural history illustrator, I never know what species of plant or animal I’ll be called on to paint next. A good way to try and stay ahead of the game is to complete (copious) sketchbooks for lots of species. Each plant has a sketchbook study and written notes on colour, shape, and plant habit recorded. […] Read more

Japanese knotweed, Fallopia japonica, invasives, step by step

Japanese knotweed sketchbook study

Posted on 3rd May 20133rd December 2018 in Biological terminology: Definitions, Botanical Illustration step by step, Illustration techniques

Japanese Knotweed job I’ve been working on a series of three scientific illustrations of invasive plants this week, for Summersault Communications. This blog is about doing a Japanese knotweed sketchbook study. The article accompanying my illustrations will explain how to identify the plants and why they pose a threat. I am fortunate in that the […] Read more