Original Book Paintings

Original illustrations in black and white from
AN IRISH NATURE YEAR and A GARDEN BIRD YEAR BOOKS

It was an honour to be asked to illustrate a broad selection of species to accompany the Harper Collins publications of An Irish Nature Year, written by Jane Powers and A Garden Bird Year which was written by Mike Toms.

Both books brought their subjects to life by speaking about the amazing hidden lives that are often overlooked of some of our most common neighbours, and I was tasked with trying to capture this in my illustrations.
As someone who is largely focussed on Irish birds, it was fascinating and challenging for me to research invertebrates, reptiles, flowers and mammals for An Irish Nature Year. I have since spent more and more time seeking out and enjoying many of the books topics, and I am constantly being amazed how many I have overlooked so regularly in the past. Although easily relatable in Ireland, A Garden Bird Year was written with a British focus, species like Willow and Marsh Tit, Tawny Owl and Nuthatches just some of the several species we sadly lack in Ireland. It was nice to work on illustrations of these, digging through old notebooks and looking at photographs from trips abroad for inspiration and references to help illustrate them.
Black and White watercolour illustrations

A selection of original illustrations that were commissioned by Harper Collins to feature in An Irish Nature Year and A Garden Bird Year. The illustrations are mostly black and white and painted in watercolour, though some are in full colour. They were drawn from my own experiences and a lifetime of enjoying the natural world around me. I was very fortunate and proud to work on such wonderfully written books. Most of these illustrations are available for sale here on my website.

  • An Irish Nature Year
  • A Garden Bird Year Book
  • An Irish Nature Year
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