An experienced natural history and botanical illustrator, Lizzie’s work appears in books and magazines around the world, on postage stamps and mugs.
She lives very happily in Hay on Wye, and works her garden studio surrounded by plants and birds.
Finding out what I’m working on,
follow my blog or find me on instagram.
I quite often get asked how I got to be a botanical illustrator, and this short film of me talking to camera sets out to explain:
https://youtu.be/KALAt7xaiE8?si=Z9pTRoaA3LrZ_O9r
I cover how I got into being a freelance natural history illustrator as a career, discusses my education and some of my favourite jobs, covers how to work with clients, a bit on copyright and self promotion, and explains why I reckon I`ve got the best job ever.
Hope if you`re keen to do something similar, or even if you just love drawing and painting the natural world, that there might be some useful stuff in amongst.
#naturalscienceillustration #sciart #botanicalillustration #naturalhistoryillustration #illustration
This is the Lettuce seaslug Elysia crispata, found in the Caribbean. Completed sciart illustration for Montserrat national trust, one version in watercolour, one in pen and ink. It`ll be used in educational materials by local schools and by the National trust.
Blue is unusual in nature, so working on such an insanely glorious animal was, of course, a massive treat. The fact that it is also green and spotty, covered in blue frills, and has pink flushed tentacles did nothing to dampen my ardour for this amazing coral reef invertebrate.
#naturalhistoryillustration #sealettuce #seaslug #elysiacrispata #coralreef
Spent the day illustrating this St. Cecelia apple for a commission.
#Apples are some of the toughest things to #illustrate, I struggle with the waxy shine and depth of colour. This time its gone ok.
And now....I can eat them!
This is the Bloody-nosed beetle, Timarcha tenebricosa.
Its not uncommon, and releases a drop of reddish liquid from its mouth when disturbed, which deters predators.
It`s black with a bluish sheen, and distinctive beaded antennae. Unlike most beetles, Timarcha is flightless.
Completed in watercolour for South Devon National Landscapes, for use on Interpretation and information materials.
#sciart #bloodynosedbeetle #beetles #naturalhistoryillustration #timarchatenebricosa
New blog out, this one on Orchids:
https://lizzieharper.co.uk/2026/01/wildflower-families-orchidaceae/
It`s one of a series I`ve been doing on wildflower families. I find orchids quite tricky, not least because their anatomy is rather unusual. Hope the blog helps!
#botanicalart #botanicalillustration #orchids #orchidaceae #wildflowers
This is the Plymouth anole Anolis lividus
I saw one of these lizards scuttle across the path on the walk to Rendezvous beach in Montserrat, and it`s rainbow colours were quite amazing.
It`s another of the animal sciart illustrations completed for Montserrat National Trust and UKOTCF. It`ll be used in colouring books, educational materials, and information and outreach from the National Trust.
I complete the watercolour illustration first, then trace this direct into ink by using a projector, or a light box. Always, the initial illustration rough is done in pencil line, so adjustments can be made quickly and easily in response to client feedback.
#lizard #anole #anolelizard #anolis #anolislividus sciart naturalhistoryillustration naturalscienceillustration wildlife montserrat madebyhand NoToAIGeneratedImages
This is the Narrow-leaved everlasting sweet pea Lathyrus sylvestris, one of a series of plant and insect illustrations completed for South Devon National Landscape.
It`ll be used in a "spotter`s guide" to species you can see along the South Devon coast.
I loved painting this pretty pink pea flower. The tendrils are always a lot of fun, and the winged stems add interest.
It helped that I saw the plant in bloom in the summer, along with its` long-horned bee pollinator. These bees are only abundant in a few UK sites, including near Prawle point, and the SDNL are working to encourage them.
I`ve also included a few details, and the pencil rough which was submitted to their botanists for approval, before the colour was added.
#botanicalart #botanicalillustration #sciart #lathyrus
New blog on doing botanical illustrations of Scottish urban wildflowers for an The Field Studies Council and BSBI (Scotland) identification guide:
https://lizzieharper.co.uk/2025/12/guide-to-urban-plants-of-scotland-illustrations/
I am passionate about the beauty, diversity, and resilience of "weeds", so this was a dream job.
I find them some of the most fascinating of plants to draw and paint, so it was great to be able to spend a lot of time examining them.
Most of the species were growing within half a mile of my home, which is always a plus. An awful lot were literally opposite me, growing in the churchyard wall of Hay St. Marys.
#botanicalillustration #botanicalart #sciart #naturalhistoryillustration #wildflowers #naturalscienceillustration #Identificationguide #fscguide #urbanplants #scottishwildflowers #BSBI @field_studies_council @bsbibotany
