Interview about Field Notes Botanical Illustration, winner of the A' Graphics, Illustration and Visual Communication Design Award 2025
Field Notes is a conservation focused project that illustrates the often overlooked details of nature, highlighting native plants and moths from remote regions. Each specimen is carefully observed and documented under magnification, capturing everything from the veins of a leaf to the patterns of a moth's wings. Traditional scientific drawing methods are used to record the specimens, then digitally refined to enhance depth and clarity. Inspired by the precision of natural history museums, the project offers a close-up perspective of these specimens and their role in the environment.
View detailed images, specifications, and award details on A' Design Award & Competition website.
View Design DetailsWhen I illustrate a plant, I’m studying its structure, but also its essence. By blending traditional hand drawing with digital tools, I’m able to bring out both scientific clarity and visual depth. This approach makes botanical specimens more accessible to researchers studying everything from climate change to invasive species and complex taxonomy. At the same time, it continues a long tradition of botanical illustration—a practice where art helps us look closer, appreciate details, and connect more deeply with the world. It’s about more than just documentation; it’s a way of truly paying attention.
Balancing scientific accuracy with artistic expression starts with respect for the plant and its history. Working from herbarium specimens, which can feel flat, I like to draw with ink, to capture precise details, then digital tools to add subtle depth and texture. This approach doesn’t just make the images visually engaging—it helps viewers connect emotionally while supporting research and education. The art invites curiosity; the science ensures clarity. Together, they keep botanical illustration alive and relevant, helping us see and protect the natural world with care.
Using handmade recycled cotton paper with embedded wildflower seeds and botanical ink felt like a way to honor the life cycle of the plants themselves. It’s not just about documenting these specimens—it’s about creating something that can give back to the earth. The paper preserves the plant’s history while holding the possibility for new growth through the embedded seeds. Through choosing materials that return to the soil, the design mirrors nature’s cycle of life and renewal. I wanted to bring sensitivity to the materials and encourage people to engage actively—with the illustration, the plant, and the environment—to turn viewing into an act of care and connection. This choice invites people to hold a piece of that cycle in their hands, to become part of a process that’s bigger than the image—one rooted in care, connection, and the future. The design intent is to inspire stewardship—encouraging viewers to plant seeds of change that extend far beyond the page and into the world around them.
Capturing the details of the botanical illustrations begins with patient, close observation. I spend time carefully examining specimens—fresh or preserved from gardens or herbarium collection. I then use magnification tools to understand the intricate structures, from leaf veins to moth wing patterns. Each drawing begins with detailed hand sketches, focusing on accuracy and proportion, to capture the plant’s form as precisely as possible. Then, I refine the work digitally, adding texture and subtle depth to bring those hidden details to life. This process transforms overlooked elements into a clear, meaningful story that connects viewers to the complexity of nature.
This project is a powerful invitation—to see and celebrate the vital role plants play in our world. Field Notes Botanical Illustration brings the quiet strength of biodiversity into focus, reminding us that every species is part of a larger, interconnected story. By making these delicate forms visible and tangible, the work inspires attention and respect. It calls on us to engage thoughtfully—not just as observers, but as committed stewards—planting seeds of awareness that grow into lasting care and renewal for our environment.
Pressed specimens are inherently flat, stripped of their original form and texture. My challenge is to rebuild that presence—studying the plant’s natural curves and structure through fresh references and detailed observation. I begin with precise ink drawings to capture form and detail, then use digital tools to add depth and clarity. This approach brings back a sense of volume and life while respecting the specimen’s scientific integrity. It’s a careful balance—restoring dimensionality without losing the authenticity of what’s preserved.
In a world that moves faster every day, detailed botanical illustration does more than just capture images—it sparks real conversation. It invites us to pause, to really look closely, and to reconnect with the plants that surround us—in gardens, natural history collections, or even right outside our doors. This kind of work brings science out of the lab and into the public eye, translating complex details into something clear and accessible. It breaks down barriers, making it possible for everyone—not just experts—to join the conversation about the natural world we all share.This isn’t just about showcasing plants; it’s about creating a space where curiosity grows, where people feel more connected to the natural world. The illustrations become a bridge between art and science, between observation and care. They remind us that understanding nature is a collective effort—one that calls for respect, attention, and action. Through this work, I hope to open doors and inspire a deeper relationship with the environment, one that fuels conversation, connection, and ultimately, change.
Since the exhibition began touring Canadian institutions in 2020, the audience response has offered a deeper understanding of how this work resonates. I’ve seen students, scientists, artists, and researchers engage with the illustrations in ways that spark conversation—about memory, place, and the plants that shape our environments. Many are surprised by how much information a drawing can hold, and how it invites closer looking. There’s something about seeing a plant rendered in such detail that invites people to pause, to ask questions, and to reflect on their own relationship with the natural world. Whether it’s a researcher recognizing a species or someone encountering it for the first time, that moment of connection matters.These interactions have reaffirmed for me the importance of accessibility—not just in how the work is displayed, but in how it can become a powerful tool for research and a point of connection. It’s shown me the importance of creating ways for research to engage more perspectives—it needs pathways to reach people, and that art can be a quiet but effective way to open those doors.
Traveling to different regions and experiencing their ecosystems firsthand showed me how plants exist within a larger network of life—how their behaviours respond to environment and time. As you I became more familiar with these rhythms—seeing wildflower petals open and close with the sun, or moth wings fluttering quietly—I realized how those small, living gestures disappear once pressed and dried. It reminded me that my job isn’t just to copy a shape, but to hold the full presence of the plant—to bring its life, its movement, and its connection to the environment into the work.This awareness transformed how I approach each illustration. It’s no longer about just form or detail, but about conveying the relationship between plant and place—the unseen dialogue between organism and environment. Every line, every shade becomes a way to honor that connection. The work asks viewers to look deeper, to understand plants as part of a larger story, a web of life that’s beautiful, dynamic, and alive. In this way, the illustrations become more than images—they become invitations to witness and care more deeply for the natural world.
Looking ahead, I’m really excited to push the boundaries between science and art even further. For me, it’s about blending traditional techniques with digital tools to capture not just what plants look like, but the energy and life they carry—their story within the ecosystem. I want to make those connections visible, so people can feel that deep relationship.I also want this work to live beyond museums and galleries—bringing it into more schools, community spaces, anywhere people gather—so it sparks curiosity and makes science feel personal and accessible. Art has this beautiful way of opening hearts, inviting everyone to be part of the conversation about protecting our planet.There’s so much opportunity for this project to promote healing, not just for the environment but for the people who interact with it. Art can create spaces where both nature and community are nurtured together. Ultimately, it’s about creating a bridge—connecting detailed observation with emotional experience—to inspire people to care for each other and the world around them.
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