~ Artist ~

I draw and paint wildlife directly from life in the field as I feel this is the only way I can capture the life and vitality of my subjects. I am a keen photographer and specialise in taking photographs of insects and have written and illustrated several publications, including:

Some of my Paintings:

~ Ecologist ~

I carry out a range of ecological work. Recent projects include invertebrate site surveys and a study of the ecology of British Oil Beetles for Buglife.

I have worked as a consultant entomologist and naturalist on many television and radio programmes. These include:

~ Speaker ~

I enjoy giving talks about a number of wildlife-related topics. Some examples of talks I give are:

  • Wildlife of Dartmoor
  • Secret world of the undergrowth
  • Sketching wildlife
  • The Heath Potter Wasp

I also lead workshops in wildlife art, insect identification and work with Jennie Hale as part of Workshop Under The Sky.

More…

I have been fascinated by nature since childhood and one of my earliest memories is of watching glow-worms as a three year old on the south Downs, in Hampshire.

I now live on the edge of Dartmoor in Devon with my wife Joyce and sons Barnaby and Oscar.

I enjoy exploring the natural world through through drawing and painting wildlife in the field. I am also a keen photographer. My interests in natural history are wide with particular focus on the study of insects, birds and rockpool life. My sketches and field paintings are always produced on the spot in the field. For me this is the only way I can capture the life and vitality of my subjects.

I grew up on Hayling Island, where surrounded by the bird-filled harbours, sand dunes and the rich habitats of the county I developed a deep passion for the natural world.

After graduating from Falmouth School of Art and Design in 1991 I worked for the Dartmoor National Park Authority as a graphic designer.

Since going freelance in 1999 I now work as a wildlife consultant, artist, public speaker and ecologist on a wide variety of projects from producing an illustrated wildlife diary, book and leaflet design and ecological studies of beetles. I have worked with the BBC Natural History Unit on many television programmes including the award winning Smalltalk Diaries, the Natural World – Earth Pilgrim and the David Attenborough series – Life in the Undergrowth. I have also contributed to several Living World programmes for Radio 4.

I have won a number of awards for my drawings and paintings, notably the Wildlife Art Gallery Award, in the 1992 European Bird Artist of the Year competition and in 1997 was the British Birds Bird Illustrator of the Year. My work has appeared in many books including the Devon – wildlife through the seasons and Bugs Britannica.

John Walters