Bird Sketch by Emma Reynard, Illustrator & Community Artist. A story-led illustration capturing the beauty of birds through natural history observation. Perfect for lovers of natural history, illustration, and creative learning.

Explore my work

  • “Illustrative drawing inspired by a film scene, showcasing detailed character and environment study in a curiosity-driven, story-led style by a natural history illustrator and community artist.”

    ILLUSTRATION

    Commissioned & personal work

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  • Emma Reynard, Artist in schools, Derbyshire, wellbeing, confidence, self-esteem.

    COMMUNITY WORKSHOPS

    Projects in schools, with adults and art as therapy

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Derbyshire based Illustrator and community artist. Working in schools, museums, galleries and within the community. Seeking representation to support and grow author-illustrator strand of my practice within children's books

About me

I’m a Derbyshire-based illustrator and community artist with a BA (Hons) in Textiles and an MA in Illustration from Central Saint Martins. I combine drawing, print, and mixed media to create story-led work inspired by natural history, museums, and collections.

Working in series, I explore how ordinary objects can hold extraordinary stories. My sketchbooks act as working journals, bringing together observation, found text, and research.

Alongside my studio practice, I have over 30 years’ experience leading inclusive, hands-on workshops for all ages, focusing on experimentation, accessible processes, and personal storytelling.

Through both my illustration and community work, I aim to highlight overlooked stories and quiet details, encouraging readers, participants, and viewers to pause, look again, and engage more deeply with the world around them.

I am currently developing work as a children’s picture book illustrator, working across fiction and non-fiction, and am seeking representation to support and grow this author–illustrator strand of my practice.

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Black and white ink drawing of various plants and trees, with some watercolour background drawn from observation
Close-up of a bumblebee on purple flowers with green background. Commission for The Bumblebee Conservation Trust, UK.
A pink water lily with yellow stamens floating next to a green lily pad on a pond.
A hand-drawn sketch of a tree fern with emerging green shoots, drawn from observation. Nature illustration, close observation, visual diary of nature.
Abstract acrylic painting of a pond with green lily pads, leaves, and aquatic plants. Illustrating gardens and botanics.
Colourful drawing of various plants and yellow flowers with green and pink accents. Illustration of garden from life, mark making, botanicals.
Colourful illustration of various plants, including large yellow-green leaves, tall grasses, and berries, with a blue sky background. Nature study, plants, botanical.
A watercolor painting of a small bird with yellow and brown feathers, perched on a branch surrounded by green leaves and grapes.
Black and white ink illustration of a bird's nest with three young birds in it, surrounded by twigs and feathers.
Sketch of a baby bird with a bright orange beak, lying in a nest with some grass around it. Cuckoo illustration. Natural history illustration, Springwatch camera drawing.
A detailed pencil sketch of a bird resting among twigs and curly grass, with the word "Swift" written in the top right corner.
Painting of an oyster catcher, sitting among rocks or pebbles. Bird illustration, ink drawing, hand drawn. Non-fiction illustration.
Black ink sketch of long-tailed duck, on water with reeds nearby. Bird illustration, nature illustrator, picture book illustrator, birds
Sketch of Lapwing bird with a crest of long feathers on its head, resting on the ground with rocks and grass. The word "Lapwing" is written in the upper left corner. Bird illustration.
Two oyster catchers standing on rocks and pecking at something on the ground. Bird ink sketch, illustration
Illustration of three different butterflies with colourful wings, arranged vertically. Natural history illustration. Birdwing butterflies, Alfred Russell Wallace, Natural History exploration and naturalists.
A realistic illustration of a green beetle with detailed features and shading. Scarab beetle, green, Natural History, watercolour and gouache, drawn using a stereo microscope
Various seashells and hermit crabs, hand drawn with watercolour and coloured pencil. Life sciences at Museum of Natural History, Oxford. Natural history illustration, non-fiction illustration, children's picture book illustration
Hand-drawn illustrations of three different beetles with handwritten notes identifying their species and characteristics.
A colored drawing of a Roman-style amber figurine of a boar with detailed shading and a handwritten note beneath that says, "Roman figurine of amber boar."
Drawing of a blue dog head with a sad face on the left and a happy face on the right, labeled 'Egyptian glass dog head bead'.
Sketch of a jazz band performing, with musicians playing saxophone, guitar, and drums, and a group of people sitting and listening.
Hand-drawn sketch of people socializing at a gathering, with some standing and others sitting, engaged in conversations or looking around.
Black and white line drawings of five different tortoises each with distinct shell and head features, arranged on a light background. illustrator's sketchbook.
A series of black and white illustrations with text captions depicting scenes from Rebecca. The scenes include conversations and emotional expressions among the characters.
Painting of The James Caird caught in a storm with turbulent waves and dark skies. The small, lifeboat famously used by Sir Ernest Shackleton and five companions for an epic 800-mile open-sea rescue voyage from Elephant Island to South Georgia
A painting of an albatross flying over stylized blue ocean waves, with a note at the top labelled 'Albatross'. From Shackleton 'Endurance' illustration series.
Line drawings of ocean waves on white background, inspired by traditional Japanese wave art. From Shackleton 'Endurance' illustration series.
Sketches of icy landscapes on two pages, with handwritten words. The left page shows a blue drawing of a frozen landscape with mountains in the background, and a silhouette of a person at the bottom. The words include "Doomed," "Extraordinary," "Sout
Various abstract wave patterns and lines in shades of blue watercolor on a light background, resembling ocean waves. From Shackleton 'Endurance' illustration series.
Sketch of sailors working together to free The Endurance from ice pack. with handwritten notes and a date, February 14, 1915. From Shackleton 'Endurance' illustration series.
A vintage bureau with books and papers, and a glass display case filled with vintage photographs, tickets, and memorabilia. Artist assemblage art, illustration of life stories, personal diary illustration, collage artist, community artist, nostalgia
Mixed collage art piece with cut-out images, torn paper, a metal alligator sculpture, and handwritten and printed text elements. Artist assemblage art, illustrating life stories, social history illustration, art in libraries, community artist,
Mixed media collage including vintage photographs, paper clippings, a small vintage airoplane. The collage appears to tell a story related to war, medicine, and personal history. Artist assemblage art, illustrating life stories, social history
Collection of various small objects including animal figures, keys, small figurines, shells, and miscellaneous items spread on a wooden surface. Community artist working with MIND charity, wellbeing, mental health
A display of a handwritten note about a copper fish amulet, a small fish-shaped purse, coins, seashells, and a beaded necklace on a dark surface. Community artist working with MIND charity, wellbeing, mental health, Pitt Rivers museum, amulets
View through a hole in a fence or barrier into a wooded area where three police officers with helmets and body armor are seen with weapons and equipment. Illustration, collage, Emma Reynard
sketch of a small village scene with colorful houses, trees, and a hill in the background. Pencil notes describe the scene as inspired by 1930s vernacular architecture, influenced by the mid-century style, with mentions of community, sketching, and d
A round metal plaque on the ground with engraved text and a left-pointing arrow. The plaque reads: "Collect XXVIII Pairs The answer is plain to see GO".
Six black and white logos featuring different designs, including a guitar, a raised fist, a bird on a branch, a checkered pattern with a hat and shoes, a flaming wheel, and a speedometer with the words "Great Little Car".
Close-up of a decorative metal sculpture with floral and circular patterns, reflected on a mirror surface.
Decorative wall art with mirrors shaped like flowers, mounted on a red brick wall.
Miniature illuminated village scene with small houses, trees, streetlamps, and a church, all glowing warmly against a dark background.
A nature-inspired display with a woodland backdrop featuring animals like a deer and insects, along with children's books, wooden log slices, and small animal-themed toys and decor.

Current & Previous Clients

Oxford University Museums & Collections

Oxford Botanic Garden & Arboretum

Ashmolean Museum Oxford

Museum of Natural History

Pitt Rivers Museum

National Trust

Derbyshire Wildlife Trust

Bumblebee Conservation Trust

NHS Foundation Trust

Crisis homeless charity

MIND mental health charity

Inspire Arts & Culture

Junction Arts

Wirksworth Arts Festival

Platform Thirty1

St Helens Arts in Libraries

Arts at The Old Fire Station

The Elm Foundation

Fairfield Residential Home, Oxford

Wolverhampton Art Gallery