Illustrator Documents the Things She Discovers During Her Outdoor Adventures

Nature Journals by Jo Brown

This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase, My Modern Met may earn an affiliate commission. Please read our disclosure for more info.

Many artists find inspiration in the diverse beauty of the environment. UK-based illustrator Jo Brown documents the discoveries she makes during outdoor excursions in her colorful Nature Journals. Each notebook spread contains exquisite drawings and notes of plants and animals that she sees in the Devon countryside. What makes her Nature Journals particularly eye-catching is the way Brown utilizes the entire page for her full-bleed illustrations. By doing so, her vibrant compositions appear to pop off of the page.

According to her website, Brown “started the journal because she wanted to record the things she was discovering as she found them because nature is one of the most important things in her life.” Featured in her portfolio are careful renderings of carnivorous plants, tiny insects, and indigenous birds. And she didn't have to look far for them, either; Brown says that most of the nature she depicts are things that anyone can find with “a little patience and quiet observation.”

Brown uses a combination of fine-nib pens and colored pencils to capture her subjects in splendid detail. Much like scientific illustrations, she often includes close-up shots of specific components, such as minute insect eggs. Along the edge of the drawings, Brown adds educational jottings of the flora and fauna, including the Latin name of each species.

You can purchase prints and other creative renditions of Brown's art via Society6, and keep up to date with her latest artwork by following her on Instagram and Twitter.

UK-based artist Jo Brown creates exquisite Nature Journals with illustrations of different plants and animals that she finds.

Nature Drawing

Nature Journals by Jo Brown

Nature Journals by Jo Brown

Watch this video to see more pages from Brown's Nature Journal:

Jo Brown: Website | Instagram | TwitterSociety6 

My Modern Met granted permission to feature photos by Jo Brown.

Related Articles:

Intricate Illustrations of the 5 Senses Inspired by Art in the Museo del Prado Museum

20th Century Illustrations Reveal the Mysterious Creatures Living in the Deep Sea

Cartographers Have Secretly Been Hiding Illustrations Inside Switzerland’s Maps for Decades

Margherita Cole

Margherita Cole is a Contributing Writer at My Modern Met and illustrator based in Southern California. She holds a BA in Art History with a minor in Studio Art from Wofford College, and an MA in Illustration: Authorial Practice from Falmouth University in the UK. She wrote and illustrated an instructional art book about how to draw cartoons titled 'Cartooning Made Easy: Circle, Triangle, Square' that was published by Walter Foster in 2022.
Become a
My Modern Met Member
As a member, you'll join us in our effort to support the arts.
Become a Member
Explore member benefits

Sponsored Content