Spotted fish
Spotted fish is another of my blogs on patterns in nature. You can [...]
Trees: Scots pine Pinus sylvestris
Scots Pine Pinus sylvestris Scots pine is one of a series of [...]
Researching a wildflower
Researching a wildflower involves gathering information on the anatomy, distinguishing characteristics, family, and [...]
Trees: Small-leaved lime or Linden
Small-leaved lime Tilia cordata and other Lime or Linden trees This is [...]
Potatoes
Potatoes are ubiquitous vegetables, a staple in the west since their introduction from [...]
Patterns in Nature: A quick overview
Introducing patterns One of the things in nature which is worth taking a [...]
Variegation: Patterns on leaves
What is Variegation? Many of the patterns you see on plant leaves, especially [...]
Striped Patterns in Nature
Stripes Stripes are seen across the animal and plant kingdoms. Although the first [...]
Great Burnet Step by Step
Recently, I’ve illustrated the Great Burnet, Sanguisorba officinalis for an interpretation board, to [...]
Common Grass species identification: Some easy shortcuts
As you may have noticed, I’m rather obsessed with grasses, and have blogged [...]
Orchid Botanical Illustration Step by step
Orchids have always been a bit of a mystery to me, so when [...]
Mosquito life cycle – illustrating the Anopholes mosquito
Introducing the African Malaria mosquito, Anopheles gambiae The mosquito is one of the [...]
The Bad Garden
The non eco-garden is a companion blog to my earlier one, explaining and [...]
Good Garden: A wildlife Haven
Illustrating a wildlife garden is always a challenge, but something I embrace. Not [...]
Fungal treats at Cusop Churchyard
Fungal subjects always make my heart sing, so I was really pleased when [...]
Spotted Flycatcher step by step
Spotted Flycatchers Muscicapa striata are lovely birds, often overlooked because of their seemingly [...]
Trees: Birch
Birch trees: The Silver and the Downy Birch There are two main [...]
Bird’s-foot Trefoil: An Excellent Plant
Bird’s-foot Trefoil: Where to find it? This blog is in praise of [...]
Beatrix Potter: Illustrator and Inspiration
Beatrix Potter is known to people the world over as the creator of [...]
Trees: Beech
Introduction Beech trees are common across Britain, favouring chalky soils. The oldest Beech [...]
Natural History Illustration and Life Long Learning: The Field Studies Council
Natural History Illustration and Life-long learning: Field Studies Council Courses is my blog [...]
Illustrating Yellow flowers: Five approaches
Botanical illustrations of yellow flowers can be really challenging. As you try to [...]
Ants in the UK: Four subfamilies
Having recently written a blog on the anatomy of ants, and been on [...]
Rocky shore ecosystem illustration
Rocky shore ecosystem: a lucky break I recently illustrated The Hidden Universe [...]
The Brecknockshire Flora
The Brecknockshire flora is written by John Crellin and Mike Porter, and is [...]
Sedges, Grasses and Rushes: Telling the families apart
I recently went on another excellent FSC course, this time on identifying grasses [...]
Ant anatomy for Beginners
I’ve recently gone on a couple of fabulous courses with Field Studies Council [...]
Trees: Yew
Trees: Yew is another blog inspired by my illustrations for The Tree Forager [...]
Geraniums, Crane’s-bills and Stork’s-bills
Geraniums, Crane’s-bills and Stork’s-bills is a guest blog from the wonderful Stewart Roberts, a [...]
The Hidden Universe: Pen and Ink Illustrations
The Hidden Universe by Alexandre Antonelli is a short and powerful book. I [...]
Trees: Elder
Trees: Elder is another blog inspired by my illustrations for “The Tree Forager” [...]
Buzzards, Kites and Kestrels
Buzzards, kites, and kestrels in a guest blog from a naturalist who lives [...]
The Treeline – Book Illustrations
The Treeline: The last forest and the future of life on earth by [...]
Heath Star Moss Sketchbook study
Heath star moss is one of three invasive species I’ve just illustrated for [...]
Step by step illustration of a Robin
Step by step blogs can be tricky to write – I often don’t [...]
Cow Parsley: All about an Umbellifer
Cow parsley Anthriscus sylvestris was on the list of plants I recently illustrated [...]
Blueberry: step by step Pen and Ink illustration
I recently completed a blueberry illustration for a packaging job, and thought it’d [...]
Trees: Rowan
Trees: Rowan is another blog inspired by my illustrations for “The Tree Forager” [...]
Illustrations for “30 animals that made us smarter”
A recent commission saw me completing pen and ink illustrations for “30 animals [...]
Wood Ants: Illustrating a guide to the wood ants of the Cairngorms
Earlier this year, I had one of the hardest and most wonderful jobs. [...]
Step by step Downy Birch leaves
This blog shows how to ink up the Downy Birch leaves and catkins, [...]
Equipment: Magnifiers and scalpels
In Equipment: Magnifiers and scalpels, I won’t only be looking at these two [...]
Being Hacked on Instagram
Being hacked on Instagram: this blog is the tale of a scam. Luckily, [...]
Trees: Ash
Trees: Ash This is the third in my series on common trees, and [...]
Trees: Sycamore
Trees: Sycamore Acer pseudoplatanus is a maple, and is Europe’s largest maple species. [...]
Trees: English Oak
I’ve been working on illustrations for “The Tree Forager” by Adele Nozedar, due [...]
Comparing Common and Japanese Hops
A recent job involved highlighting differences between the Japanese hop Humulus japonicus, and the [...]
Comparing Goldenrod Species
Comparing Goldenrod species was one of my tasks in a recent commission for [...]
Unexpected Thrills: Adventures of an Illustrator
Unexpected Thrills: Adventures of an Illustrator is a blog about some of the [...]
Illustrating a Wild Welsh Meadow of Butterflies
Illustrating a wild Welsh meadow complete with clouds of butterflies was a wonderful [...]
Illustrating a Deer for Packaging
My earlier blog, Wild Shreds: Illustrating Pet Food packaging gave an overview of completing [...]
Wild Shreds: Illustrating Pet Food packaging
Wild Shreds is a range of dog food produced in the US. It [...]
Save the Bees: How to Make Your Garden a Bee Haven
Save the bees and make your garden a Bee haven! This week’s Guest [...]
Foraging with Kids at Hay Festival
Foraging with Kids Workshop at Hay Festival: Setting up Back in May, [...]
Save our Butterflies: Gardening for butterflies (2 of 2)
This is a Guest blog by DIY Garden. Illustrations by Lizzie Harper. White Admiral [...]