Natural History Museum.

In January I did this illustration for the Natural History Museum in London. They needed a fresh image for their own-range giftware, and this was created using fineliner pens and time spent in the Museum itself, along with hours poring over their massive photo library. It's finally in the museum so I'm allowed to share it!

The illustration had to summarise the enormity and breadth of their collection along with the unique architecture of the building. Creating this illustration combined everything I love to do: observe and study nature, draw challenging new things (ie: "animals are not my strong point!") and work in a detailed and accurate way, while being invited to flavour the image with my own style and atmosphere.




For the curious, featured in the illustration are the following species and elements:

Insects:
Ladybird
Long-tongued bumblebee
Asterope Lepreuri Butterfly
Jackson's Leaf Butterfly
Stag Beetle
Silver Chafer Beetle
Ant
Great Raft Spider

Animals:
Dippy (whole)
Dodo
American Black/PolarBear
Newt
Hippo
Blue Whale
(There are two more dinosaurs, one skeletal and one whole (Bronto?) but I've lost the notes for these! Maybe you can advise?
Assorted bird eggs

Birds:
Hummingbird

Fish:
Crucian Carp
Trout

Plants:
Giant Fern
Lily
Paeony
Pansy
Cyclamen
Ivy
Snowdrop
Tulips
Sequioa
Forget-me-knot

Minerals/Gems:
Koh-i-Noor diamond replica
Pearl
Turquiose
Zircon
Tourmaline
Benitoite
Fool's Gold
Agate

Funghi:
Fly Agaric

Shells:
Stellaria Solaris
C. Varia

Human:
Homo Erectus skull
Charles Darwin
Australopithecus Boisei skull
Human embryo

Assorted generic specimen jars and notebooks
Earth Gallery and other architectural details
Volcano cross-section

Images are shown on my website here.

and you can buy the NHM's illustrated goodies here.