I recently painted this stag beetle commission. It's huge by my standards - 40cm from mandible tips to hind tarsi. I used a reference photo to block in a thin ink outline, and then layered many shades of black gouache to render its form. I also added a few white highlights and white washes for reflected light. It took 21 hours, with The Shins on repeat, and I'm pretty happy with how it turned out. The stag's new owners have him mounted over their fireplace - perfect!!

A series of drawings showing the response of cyanobacterial soil crusts to rain and flooding.

Just a reminder that I'm here everyday, now.
This winter, I shifted to working on science illustration full-time. Hooray!
​Now I have plenty of time to work on your projects, and more flexibility to meet you at your workplace.

I've been working on some scientific figures lately, but can't share them yet. In the meantime, I've also done a few paintings and drawings...

For over a year, I've been helping the organising committee prepare for the 9th International Conference on Aeolian Research (ICAR IX).
For my part, that's been logo design and branding, web design, making signs and program booklets. After a few tight weeks leading up to the conference, I'm so glad that the conference went well for everyone! The field trips look like they were great fun - see the local Mildura news and Twitter #ICAR_IX

There are so many species of fruit fly yet to be described, that the fruit fly experts can't retire! Here is one that I drew this morning, to be published soon.

Come along to Jennifer Baker's (my Mum) exhibition this Saturday!
She's done incredible paintings of trees from the streets of Brisbane - fig trees, frangipani, poincianas and more.
The opening is 10am Saturday 21 May 2016, and the exhibition will only be on for two days over the weekend.
When: 21- 22 May 2016
Where: Richard Randall Art Studio, Mt Coot-tha Botanical Gardens (150 Mt Coot-tha Road, Mt Coot-tha, Brisbane) ...read more
Directions: From the main entrance to the botanic gardens, turn left into the car park. The Richard Randall Art Studio is a small cottage near the car park, separate to the other buildings. 

I'm having a go at acrylic paintings - this is Peggy, unfinished.