watercolour Archives - Lizzie Harper

deocration, natural history for decoration,

Trees: Scots pine Pinus sylvestris

Posted on 9th February 202422nd March 2024 in Trees

Scots Pine Pinus sylvestris Scots pine is one of a series of blogs I’m writing on common British trees. You can also see blogs on the Elder, the Yew, the Ash, the Oak, the Holly, the Sycamore, the Rowan, the Hawthorn, the Birch, the Lime, and the Beech. The Scots pine is one of only […] Read more

Watercolour paints: Inside my paint box

Posted on 1st December 202322nd January 2024 in Illustration Equipment

Watercolour paint choice is very personal, and everyone will have their own favourite colours. I have recently been giving the matter more thought as I try to simplify equipment lists for students, and thought I’d share my paint box with you. My paint box in use I also made a guide to the colours I […] Read more

leaf, leaves, leaf shape, compound leaves, simple leaves, botany, botany terms,

Trees: Small-leaved lime or Linden

Posted on 17th November 202317th November 2023 in Trees

Small-leaved lime Tilia cordata and other Lime or Linden trees This is one of a series of blogs I’m writing on common British trees. You can also see blogs on the Elder, the Yew, the Ash, the Oak, the Holly, the Sycamore, the Rowan, the Hawthorn, the Birch and the Beech. There are 10 […] Read more

Patterns in Nature: A quick overview

Posted on 8th September 20239th October 2023 in Patterns in nature

Introducing patterns One of the things in nature which is worth taking a really close look at is pattern. Spots, stripes and splotches decorate loads of living things; from beetles to reef fish, snakes to zebras, orchids to sunflower seeds. Peacock Pavo pair with male tail on display They have always amazed and delighted me, […] Read more

Variegation: Patterns on leaves

Posted on 8th September 202331st October 2023 in Patterns in nature

What is Variegation? Many of the patterns you see on plant leaves, especially on garden and house plants, are caused by variegation. Variegated leaves have areas of paler yellow or white on them, and vary widely form species to species, and between individual plants. Some variegated leaves even have dark red or scarlet areas. So […] Read more

Striped Patterns in Nature

Posted on 8th September 202315th December 2023 in Patterns in nature

Stripes Stripes are seen across the animal and plant kingdoms. Although the first stiped animals you think of may be zebra and tigers, there are lots of striped beetles, snakes, birds, and loads of stripy fish. Stripes for Camouflague Stripes are a brilliant way of providing camouflage. They break up the edges of an organism, […] Read more

Sand hill Screwmoss: An illustration challenge

Posted on 8th September 2023 in Current projects and news

Sand hill Screwmoss Syntrichia ruraliformis ruraliformis is one of the species completed for a recent commission. There were thirteen species of plant I had to illustrate which were growing on Braunton Burrows sand dunes, and the one that occupied me most was certainly this lovely moss. For an overview of the other species illustrated, please […] Read more

Great Burnet Step by Step

Posted on 25th August 2023 in Botanical Illustration step by step

Recently, I’ve illustrated the Great Burnet, Sanguisorba officinalis for an interpretation board, to be cited on Jubilee Pasture, in Bugthorpe, Yorkshire. This blog is a step by step explanation of the process. For step by steps of other botanical subjects, please click here, and visit my Youtube channel for real-time films of me illustrating plants […] Read more

Yorkshire fog Holcus lanatus natural history illustration by Lizzie Harper

Common Grass species identification: Some easy shortcuts

Posted on 14th July 202322nd September 2023 in Botany: Telling species apart

As you may have noticed, I’m rather obsessed with grasses, and have blogged on them often. From an introduction, to learning about them, to celebrating their beauty , discussing the ecological significance of Maram grass (guest blog), and more recently, to telling them from Rushes and sedges And, of course, I do botanical illustrations of […] Read more

Wildflowers of Braunton Burrows

Posted on 15th June 202311th August 2023 in Current projects and news

A recent commission involved illustrating 30 species for Braunton Burrows, a very beautiful sand dune system in North Devon’s AONB. The main challenges were the timing of the job, during winter when none of the flowers were in bloom, and their unfamiliarity to me. However, I really enjoyed illustrating such a pretty and diverse selection […] Read more

Orchid Botanical Illustration Step by step

Posted on 5th May 202315th June 2023 in Botanical Illustration step by step, Current projects and news

Orchids have always been a bit of a mystery to me, so when I was confronted by the Early Marsh Orchid, Dactylorhiza incarnata ssp coccinea my heart did not leap. It’s one of 13 plants I’m illustrating for a wildflower identification guide to the Braunton Burrows sand dunes system which will be published by FSC Publications. […] Read more

Mosquito life cycle – illustrating the Anopholes mosquito

Posted on 21st April 20238th May 2023 in Current projects and news, Uncategorised

Introducing the African Malaria mosquito, Anopheles gambiae The mosquito is one of the most loathed of all insects, partly because of the itchy bites they cause, but also because of their deadly role as vectors for disease, especially malaria. In 2021, according the the WHO World malaria report, there were 247 million cases and 619,000 […] Read more

Illustrating the Cannock Chase Berry Vaccinium intermedium

Posted on 8th April 2023 in Botany: Telling species apart

Cannock Chase Berry Vaccinium x intermedium is a really tricky subject to illustrate, because it’s not not only really rare, but also a hybrid. However, it needed illustrating for an identification chart being produced by FSC and Cannock Chase. Cannock chase berry: Parent species Hybrids are, according to Collins dictionary, “A hybrid is an animal or […] Read more

The Bad Garden

Posted on 14th February 20235th May 2023 in Current projects and news, Uncategorised

The non eco-garden is a companion blog to my earlier one, explaining and extolling the virtues of a garden that encourages wildlife and wild flowers. Eco or Wildlife gardens are also excellent for soil health, and have good wider ecological implications for the environment. This blog examines the flip side; things we may unintentionally do, […] Read more

Good Garden: A wildlife Haven

Posted on 14th February 202324th March 2023 in Current projects and news

Illustrating a wildlife garden is always a challenge, but something I embrace. Not only is it an opportunity to show, visually, good practice; it also gives me the chance to learn new hints and tips on how to make my own garden more friendly to wildlife. The twist on this commission is that this good […] Read more

Carbon Cycle: A Complicated Illustration

Posted on 14th February 20239th March 2023 in Biological terminology: Definitions, Current projects and news

When I was asked to “illustrate the Carbon cycle” for a brochure on gardening and carbon use, by Riksforbundet Svensk Tradgard I wasn’t too perturbed. Easy enough. Four little words. How wrong I was! Overview of the Carbon Cycle Reduced to its simplest form, the Carbon cycle describes the flow of Carbon, and the gas […] Read more

Fungal treats at Cusop Churchyard

Posted on 3rd February 2023 in Current projects and news

Fungal subjects always make my heart sing, so I was really pleased when three turned up in a recent species list I’ve been working on for Cusop Churchyard. Not only were these three species new to me, but one is considered extremely rare! British earthstar Geastrum britannicum The British earthstar is one of a family […] 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

Trees: Birch

Posted on 20th January 2023 in Trees

Birch trees: The Silver and the Downy Birch There are two main Birch trees in the UK, the Silver birch Betula pendula and the Downy birch Betula pubescens. The Downy birch tends to grow better in wetter areas and in the north. The Silver birch likes drier soils and is often found growing ornamentally […] Read more

Bird’s-foot Trefoil: An Excellent Plant

Posted on 4th January 2023 in Botany: Telling species apart, Current projects and news

Bird’s-foot Trefoil: Where to find it? This blog is in praise of a small, common wildflower which grows in grasslands. It spreads across the ground, and is low growing (rarely higher than 20cm). It favours sandy soils, but is tough and grows in a wide selection of substrates, and is able to grow in […] Read more

Beatrix Potter: Illustrator and Inspiration

Posted on 11th November 202216th February 2023 in Scientific Illustrator out and about, Showcase of themed natural history illustrations

Beatrix Potter is known to people the world over as the creator of the Peter Rabbit books. These are indeed wonderful, but there’s so much more to explore. This blog examines a little of the extraordinary skill and illustrative mastery of this Victorian writer and illustrator, thanks to a recent visit to the Beatrix Potter: […] Read more

Trees: Beech

Posted on 21st October 20229th December 2022 in Trees

Introduction Beech trees are common across Britain, favouring chalky soils. The oldest Beech trees live up to 400 years. You’ll find them in open spaces and in woodland and can tell them straight away by their smooth bark. The trees produce beech mast which is nutritious for animals, and the canopy supports wildlife. Beech wood […] Read more

Illustrating Yellow flowers: Five approaches

Posted on 9th September 2022 in Illustration techniques

Botanical illustrations of yellow flowers can be really challenging. As you try to add depth to the darker areas of the flower, you run the risk of making the petals look green, or orange. Here are a few techniques to try which should help mitigate this. Yellow Flowers 1: Pen and ink An easy way […] Read more

Ants in the UK: Four subfamilies

Posted on 26th August 202226th August 2022 in Biological terminology: Definitions, Current projects and news

Having recently written a blog on the anatomy of ants, and been on three marvellous FSC courses about these fabulous insects, I’m going to try and share what I’ve learned about telling the four UK subfamilies of ants apart. To get anywhere with ant identification, you need a basic grasp of ant anatomy, and a […] Read more