Drawn from Nature Exhibition

Foreword

The study of Plant and Wildlife Illustration was formally introduced to the University of Newcastle in 1979. The then Head of the Department of Art Graham Gilchrist, saw the potential for Newcastle as an ideal location for a course of study that would take advantage of the region's diverse habitats. Originally introduced as a major in the Bachelor of Arts Visual Art degree, Plant and Wildlife Illustration was also offered in the Graduate Diploma in Art. The reputation of the programs and increased interest in the area of study saw it developed into a program in its own right with the introduction of the Bachelor of Illustration (Natural History) in 2003.

Unique in Australia and one of only a few offered internationally, the discipline attracts students from countries such as New Zealand, United States of America, Brazil, Switzerland, Sweden, Norway, Greece and Bermuda.

Natural History Illustration is a bridge between art and science, though the visual representation and observation of nature has been practiced in Australia for over 50,000 years. Expeditionary art saw the likes of Sydney Parkinson from Cook's Endeavour voyage credited with some of the earliest recording by a European of hundreds of Australian species of plants and animals. Unfortunately Parkinson did not survive the voyage and did not see his momentous body of work published. Students from the Bachelor of Natural History program are dedicated to continuing this tradition and to the preservation of Australia's unique flora and fauna.

Though the advent of digital photography provides us with a new means to document and observe nature, the meticulous and accurate depiction necessary for scientific illustration is still relevant today. With climate change and global warming, there has possibly never been a time in human history when interpreting and depicting the natural world is more essential. Graduates from these programs are working nationally and internationally to aid this cause through their illustrations for children's books, scientific journals and publications, archaeology, palaeontology, education, interpretive material and exhibition.

Drawn from Nature is testament to the dedication and professionalism of graduates from the programs originally inspired by Graham Gilchrist. The exhibited work represents almost thirty years of research and practice in the discipline at the University of Newcastle.

I would like to thank Professor Bill Hogarth, Pro-Vice Chancellor, Faculty of Science and Information Technology, University of Newcastle for his support of the exhibition. We hope you find this exhibition both informative and inspiring.

Anne Llewellyn
Senior Lecturer
Natural History Illustration

Published: 12 December 2007
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