Sadly, due to the new GPSR regulations, I can no longer post items to Northern Ireland and the EU. Any orders from either destination will be cancelled with my deepest apologies. I am very sorry and am working to find solutions.
Although I have always loved drawing and painting (when I was little the all white family pyrenean mountain dog ended up with a red ear thanks to my eagerness to 'colour in' with felt tip pens), I was 16 before I picked up my first watercolour paints and wanted to paint animals. That was when I started seeking information on how to use the paints, what skills I needed to draw convincingly, how to compose a scene, paint fur and sell work. 30+ years down the line I have amassed a healthy collection of books on the topic.
I thought I might share my favourites here so that it might help others who are looking to start wildlife art and nature illustration. That might be for profit or just to add some nature elements to a personal journal. It doesn't matter. The world needs more human created art these days. The selection of books that I have chosen are my own, personal choices. There are no affiliate links or samples sent by publishers. They are purely books that I have found the most helpful for painting and drawing wildlife and nature.
The Laws Guide to Nature Drawing and Journaling - John Muir Laws
An ideal book for anyone wanting to create a solid, science based nature journal - or even just a nature journal for fun with their own illustrations. For beginners or otherwise, it covers everything from quick sketches to finished drawings with all the essential details noted from your own observations. However it is not a book for creating photorealistic art. It is all about creating an accurate form and noting details, both in words and with marks on the page, that create a faithful record of what you see with your own eyes.
If you are just getting started drawing wildlife and nature then the step-by-step projects will set you up beautifully for creating animal, vegetable or mineral forms that are both recognisable and creative. The information covers basic drawing skills in some of the clearest terms I have come across. Apart from there being loads of info about materials, tools and techniques, there is information about scientific thinking, recording your experiences, collecting data and even map making. There are individual sections on animals, birds, insects, flowers, trees and landscapes and the book even covers colour mixing and composition too. I could go on...
Despite the massive amount of information, it is set out clearly and simply so that anyone can dip in and learn something new. It would be particularly useful for young naturalists and budding wildlife artists as the text and illustrations are bold, colourful and fun. The information is also split into small bites with lashings of step by step images. Start at the beginning of this books and work through it and you'll be well on your way to creating beautiful wildlife and nature art.
Overall the book is creative, fun and thorough. In short, it's pure magic from an expert in his field. Check out John Muir Laws' YouTube channel for some fab videos too (https://www.youtube.com/@JohnMuirLaws).
Drawing from Line to Life - Mike Sibley
This lovely book deals with all things graphite. As you might expect, it covers the usual materials and tools alongside techniques, breaking down the complexity of drawing into manageable steps for creating stunning pencil drawings.
Mike's drawing style is near photographic realism. However the book starts with equipment and materials and goes on to drawing basics before getting into the nitty gritty of creating details - so it really does take you from beginner level through to more complex drawing skills. There is information on applying graphite in different ways and covers topics like drawing textures alongside perspective, negative drawing and light and shade. Were you ever told never to use an eraser in school art lessons? I certainly was - but Mike has a whole chapter on erasing techniques, including ways to add highlights and how to erase areas of heavy darkness. Wow! My ten year old self thinks he is such a rebel.
Although animals are the basis of most projects in the book, it also covers general nature, landscapes and textures like brick, fur and grass. Most of the book covers practical issues like pencil techniques, transfer methods and other preparation. However there are 3 full step-by-step projects. Just by looking at the step-by-step images alone you can see the birthing of beautiful art, where the processes from earlier in the book are put into practice. And you'll learn plenty along the way too. It's written in a friendly tone but is full of thorough advice and lots of little tips and tricks. By the time you work through it you will be a competent graphite artist.
It's not a cheap book, by any means, but it is more than worth the cost. You might buy 5 or 6 books on graphite drawing and only get a quarter of the content that you have in this book. However free copies of some of the chapters are available on Mike's web site so you can see if you like the content before investing in this worthy tome (hit https://www.sibleyfineart.com/pencil-drawing-book.htm and scroll down to see the full list of chapters and to read the samples).
Painting Wildlife Textures Step-by-Step - Rod Lawrence
This was the book that made the biggest impact on my art. At a time when there were no YouTube artists to share their techniques, this was where I learned to paint fur and other natural textures in watercolour. For years I struggled to find a good fur painting technique so this was a god-send when I found it.
It covers several kinds of media - oil, acrylic, watercolour, pencil and gouache - although acrylic techniques do dominate. There are a lot of illustrations of the artist's work as well as the step-by-step instructions for each project. Most of the step-by-step projects are just a page or two so it makes a great reference to look back on. I still use my copy of the book these days. The cover states, 'Learn from 50 demos' so there is plenty to work with. It does concentrate on north American wildlife but covers painting fur, feathers, scales, eyes and ears, bills and muzzles, tails and feet, antlers and horns and white and black subjects, each having its own chapter.
It might not be a book for the total beginner but it is a very useful addition to the library of those who want to paint animals. I have still not come across another book quite like this one. Although it was published back in the early 2000s and the publisher is sadly no longer around, you can pick up a second hand copy (watch out for unscrupulous sellers charging way too much for a copy) or buy it on Kindle as a North Light Classic. (I believe this version is the same but with a few updates to the original. However it has a cover with geese and goslings instead of the wolf. It is probably worth reading it on a larger format screen like a PC or tablet to see the details too.) You can see more of Rod Lawrence's books and art at www.rodlawrence.com
Natural History Illustration in Pen and Ink - Sarah Morrish
This is one of my more recent buys. It covers how to draw natural history with pen and ink - although I don't suppose that's a surprise considering the title. Inside you will find lots of inky inspiration along with unique information on how to collect specimens out in the field, sketchbook use, working in a museum and preserving and presenting artwork. It does have a more scientific tone but is not outwith the non-scientific artist's remit. There is so much info here that anyone interested in pen and ink will learn a lot - and for a more technical look at pen and ink for nature illustration this is a great place to start.
Concentrating on ink-work, drawing animals, insects, plants and more general nature like wood, seashore nature finds and fossils are covered. Sarah has some lovely chapters to stimulate those little grey cells, from mark making to emphasise texture and form, equipment (including scientific bits and bobs) to help collect and preserve specimens and how to observe your subject matter in glorious detail. Any frustrated - or not so frustrated scientist - will have a field day with this stuff.
As an added extra, the topics are illustrated, not only by the author, but by other pen and ink artists giving insight in how many artists use their skills rather than just the one. This gives a lovely, expansive view of what you can do should you chose to play with the techniques.
The section on fossils is particularly unusual as not many 'how to draw nature' books deal with this topic. The insect section is full of amazing information on studying and representing the tiny details on each species and the book ends with a chapter on mixing inky media with other kinds of paints and pencils.
Overall it is a gorgeous book full of valuable information for any artists interested in pen and ink. Sarah also has a variety of learning opportunities on her web site via Patreon, zoom and courses and in person workshops if you wanted to take this study further - www.illustratingnaturesdetails.com
Botanical Art with Scientific Illustration Sarah Jane Humphrey
Another book with a scientific tone. It's not really a 'how to' book in the traditional sense. It covers a set of skills you need to have to create scientifically accurate work, even including a brilliant chapter on 'professional practice'. It does cover some painting and drawing techniques and materials but it is the chapters on the less-artistic skills that really shine for me. There are sections on collection and choice of specimens, organising a field trip, sketchbooks, observation skills and even a history of botanical and scientific illustration. It is a treasure trove of information for the aspiring nature illustrator.
Perhaps my favourite sections are those covering observation and perspective and the principals of composition. These subjects have never been given more than a cursory mention in popular 'how to' books so it is lovely to see that info here. In particular, these chapters led me to new ways of thinking about my art in order to create a pleasing design rather than just a representation on the page. I feel the author has really done her best to teach us how to use observation to the best of our ability when creating science based art or illustrations.
Although it is mainly about botanical work, there are some images covering animal species and there is a little dsicussion about using references and anatomy too. So there is something for every nature artist. It is a hugely practical and helpful book for anyone interested in becoming a more precise artist or a professional natural history illustrator. Sarah's web site is full of beautiful illustrations and her online journal is worth a look for a bit more inspiration - www.sarahjanehumphrey.com
I hope these few books will help anyone needing somewhere to start, either looking for something specific regarding natural history illustration or a beginner wanting to paint animals or wildlife. It took years and a lot of pennies (I love buying books) for me to find the right information. These days we are spoilt with courses, workshops and online videos so finiding that information has become much easier. Yet, for me at least, you can't beat curling up on the sofa with a good book and learning something new. With a bit of luck someone will find my list of favourite books helpful.