Rewilding Britain Partnership

REWILDING BRITAIN PARTNERSHIP - NATURE ILLUSTRATION FOR WILDLIFE CONSERVATION

"Katherine's wildlife art is a powerful celebration of the natural world, capturing the essence of wild creatures and landscapes with incredible detail and grace. Her illustrations are not just visually stunning—they have the rare ability to inspire a deeper connection with wild nature."

Kim Somerville – Communications & Engagement Director, Rewilding Britain

Illustration of beavers in their natural wetland habitat, surrounded by British wildlife they support – part of a rewilding art project for Rewilding Britain

Illustration for Rewilding Britain: Wildlife Art with Impact

Since 2021, I’ve had the pleasure of collaborating with Rewilding Britain, creating a series of wildlife illustrations and conservation-themed artworks for campaigns and events that champion rewilding in the UK. This long-standing partnership has grown across several creative projects, from species prints to event placards, with the goal of inspiring people through art to reconnect with wild nature.

Close-up of wildlife illustration featuring a beaver gnawing a tree stump, with a dam, reeds, and wetland plants in the background – part of a rewilding artwork for Rewilding Britain

Detail of mounted wildlife illustration showing a heron in the foreground, with wetland planting, reeds, ponds, and a beaver dam in the background – created for a rewilding project with Rewilding Britain

Beavers in the Landscape, World Rewilding Day 2024

For World Rewilding Day 2024, I created Beavers in the Landscape, an original illustration inspired by the Knepp Estate in Sussex—a well-known site of rewilding in the UK. This detailed wildlife drawing celebrates the Eurasian beaver, a species once extinct in Britain but now making a return, and the rich ecosystems they help restore.

To inform the work, I visited Knepp —a place I’ve come to know well over the years. This visit was particularly special, as I was given an exclusive invitation to explore their beaver pen. It was an inspiring opportunity to observe firsthand how these incredible ecosystem engineers shape their surroundings, creating wetlands that benefit a wide range of species. Through their actions—cutting trees, building dams, and creating lodges—beavers transform the landscape, providing habitats for countless other species and playing a vital role in the restoration of the ecosystem.

Open sketchbook with pencil drawing of beaver wetlands in the foreground, photographed against the real wetland landscape at Knepp Estate – fieldwork for rewilding illustration

Artist Katherine sketching in the beaver habitat at Knepp Estate – capturing on-location studies for rewilding wildlife illustration

Artist Katherine painting and sketching outdoors with the beaver habitat at Knepp Estate in the background – creating field studies for rewilding wildlife illustration

Finished sketch of a beaver dam in a sketchbook, with the actual beaver dam and rewilded landscape at Knepp Estate in the background

This hand-drawn illustration highlights the biodiversity that thrives in a beaver-created landscape, including:

- Water voles, frogs, toads, newts, and water shrews
- Birds such as herons, reed warblers, owls, kingfishers, bullfinch, hobbies, and coots
- Bats, which benefit from increased insect life and deadwood habitats
- Wildflowers such as bluebells, orchids, primroses, and yellow iris
- Fish species including the returning sea trout

Beaver-created wetlands also offer critical climate and flood resilience—slowing water runoff, improving water quality, and capturing carbon, benefiting landscapes for people too.

Black and white in-progress detail illustration of a beaver in the foreground, capturing the detailed stages of the wildlife drawing

Black and white in-progress illustration detail featuring a heron in the foreground with various wildlife in the background, capturing the development of the wildlife scene

The final illustration

The resulting drawing was one which captures the keystone role of the beaver in its natural habitat, set amongst the landscape creates and the abundance of wildlife it supports. The final artwork has been released as a four-piece collection, which you can find here:

- A large 14x11” art print
- A smaller 8x6” print
- The black and white original drawing
- A greetings card

20% of profits from print sales are donated directly to Rewilding Britain.

World Rewilding Day is an annual event that aims to raise awareness of rewilding & the need for nature recovery across the world.

BUY 'BEAVERS IN THE LANDSCAPE' PRINT HERE

Final wildlife illustration turned into a 3-piece collection: a 14x11” art print, 8x6” art print, and greetings card featuring beavers and their supporting wildlife

Animal and Bird Prints for Rewilding Britain - Individual Species

Earlier in our partnership, I illustrated a collection of five native and once-native British species for Rewilding Britain. Each of these detailed wildlife drawings honours an animal that plays—or once played—a role in our ecosystems:
- Eurasian beaver
- Turtle dove
- Eurasian lynx
- Dalmatian pelican
- European tree frog

As an artist deeply connected to nature, this collaboration holds a special place in my heart. Each print is intricately hand-drawn using traditional media—pen, ink, and watercolour—to celebrate the form, texture, and spirit of these incredible creatures. From the gentle hues of the turtle dove's plumage to the striking patterns of the Eurasian Lynx, these artworks evoke a sense of awe and reverence for our natural heritage. I am thrilled to contribute 40% of the profits from the sale of these prints directly to Rewilding Britain, supporting their vital mission to restore and rewild our ecosystems.

You can find these prints here

Series of five mounted wildlife prints for Rewilding Britain featuring beaver, frog, Dalmatian pelican, lynx, and turtle dove.

Detail of Dalmatian pelican illustration, showcasing intricate details and patterns in wildlife art

Detail of Eurasian Lynx illustration, showcasing intricate patterns and details

Detail of European Tree Frog illustration, highlighting intricate details and vibrant colours in wildlife illustration

Detail of turtle dove drawing, featuring detailed patterns

Restore Nature Now March - June 2024

In summer 2024, I worked with Rewilding Britain to adapt several of these illustrations into large-format placards for the Restore Nature Now March in London. The event brought together over 80,000 people united in a call to reverse biodiversity loss and restore natural systems across the UK.
It was moving to see my artwork held high among activists, scientists, nature lovers, and campaigners, all marching together for nature.

Testimonial from Rewilding Britain:

"Katherine's wildlife art is a powerful celebration of the natural world, capturing the essence of wild creatures and landscapes with incredible detail and grace. Her illustrations are not just visually stunning—they have the rare ability to inspire a deeper connection with wild nature. Every piece feels alive and vibrant, which is why we asked Katherine if we could enlarge the special prints designed for World Rewilding Day and use them as we marched through London alongside 80,000 others urging the UK Government to 'Restore Nature Now'.

At Rewilding Britain, we are delighted to partner with Katherine. Her art reminds us of the rich biodiversity that is possible when nature is allowed to lead. It is a bold and beautiful reminder of why we must continue our mission to rewild 30% of Britain for nature, people and planet."

Kim Somerville – Communications & Engagement Director

Katherine holding two large placards featuring her wildlife illustrations at the Restore Nature Now March, showcasing intricate wildlife art for conservation

Interested in Commissioning Wildlife Illustration?

If you’re a wildlife conservation charity, rewilding organisation, or environmental campaigner looking to bring your vision to life through illustration, I’d love to collaborate with you.

I offer special rates for conservation charities, and each commission is crafted with care, research, and a deep respect for the natural world.

GET IN TOUCH TO DISCUSS YOUR PROJECT