Bethan Burton Bethan Burton

Episode 71: Kelly Brenner – Nature Obscura

For naturalist, writer and photographer, Kelly Brenner noticing details is a way of life. With the deep curiosity of a naturalist, Kelly has discovered some of the incredible natural diversity around her and documented this in her book Nature Obscura: A city's hidden natural world.

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Bethan Burton Bethan Burton

Episode 70: Timothy M Joe – Honouring history through art (PART 2)

Tim is an artist from Alabama who has a strong connection with the history and stories held within the landscape around him. Through art, Tim pays respect to the landscape and the man-made structures within it, honouring the past and preserving this on canvas for the future. Last time I spoke with Tim on the podcast, half of the interview was lost through a technical fault. In this episode we revisit our conversation, talking about Tim’s current work and his dreams and plans for his creative future.

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Bethan Burton Bethan Burton

Episode 69: Susanne Swing Thompson – Walking towards stillness

Susanne has come to know her neighbourhood intimately, through the lens of her camera, during daily nature walks. As a nature photographer, Susanne captures moments of connection and stillness in the natural world, noticing details and sharing this beauty with others.

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Bethan Burton Bethan Burton

Episode 68: Harshitha Prakash – Gida Living Colours

Harshitha is the founder of Gida Living Colours. She creates paints with plants and soil, transforming the landscape into vibrant and consciously sourced art materials. Harshitha is a member of the Natural Colours Collective, a group of nature enthusiasts sharing knowledge of natural and sustainable art practices.

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Bethan Burton Bethan Burton

Episode 67: Julie Johnson – Life Science Studios

Julie is a biologist, artist and founder of Life Science Studios. As a scientific illustrator, she helps biologists communicate their research by creating imagery that captures and conveys the essential elements of their work. Problem solving, communication and artistic expression are all part of Julie's creative process.

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Bethan Burton Bethan Burton

Episode 66: Preethi Swamy – Garden Slug Productions

Preethi is an artist living in Queens, New York. With an appreciation for all things woodland and whimsical, Preethi started Garden Slug Productions as a place to document her creative journey. Through all the uncertainty of recent times, she has come back to nature and art as a way to stay grounded.

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Bethan Burton Bethan Burton

Episode 65: Rafa Benjumea – Diarios de Naturaleza

Rafa is a biologist, ornithologist and illustrator. He has concentrated his career on birds and worked extensively studying bird migration and conservation in the Strait of Gibraltar. Rafa is the founder of Diarios de Naturaleza, where he helps others tap into their curiosity and creativity through nature journaling.

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Bethan Burton Bethan Burton

Episode 64: Lara Quaglini – Alchemilla’s Corner

Lara is a scientist and natural history illustrator based in Milan, Italy. Lara uses her nature journal as a place to learn new things and grow as an artist and naturalist. As someone who enjoys change, Lara is connected with the seasons and the transformation that each new season brings.

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Bethan Burton Bethan Burton

Episode 63: Verena Hillgärtner – Wieder Wilder Werden

Verena is a wilderness educator and nature journal teacher helping others connect with nature in the city. She helps people come back to our essential wild nature, finding empathy and connection with all life around us. Verena shares her stories and insights on her podcast Wieder Wilder Werden.

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Bethan Burton Bethan Burton

Episode 62: Ginn Barber – The sky is the limit

Ginn is an artist who is inspired by nature. Much of her art is done en plein air, focusing on landscapes and skies. With a deep love for colour, Ginn knows the value of getting to know your paints by swatching, mixing and creating colour charts.

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Bethan Burton Bethan Burton

Episode 61: Yvea Moore – Restoration and stewardship

Yvea is a botanist who has spent many years working in the field of restoration. Through her online workshop series, Plant Families in our Foods, she helped participants understand more about the plants we eat every day. Yvea is also the co-ordinator of the online nature journal gatherings "Pencil Miles and Chill".

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Bethan Burton Bethan Burton

Episode 60: Miriam Morrill – Pyrosketchology

Miriam is a fire management specialist who promotes place-based fire education. Miriam uses nature journaling as a tool for tuning into the environment before, during and after fire. When we are aware of our environment in this deep way, we are better able to make decisions about fire awareness and management.

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Bethan Burton Bethan Burton

Episode 59: Heather Winslow LeFebvre – Touching history

Heather is a nature journal teacher with a unique focus. She uses literature and history as a way of connecting her students with the natural world. In her online classes, Heather explores the life and landscape of authors such as Beatrix Potter, James Herriot, Jane Austen and The Brontë Sisters.

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Bethan Burton Bethan Burton

Episode 58: Mike Hendley – Drawing Inspiration

Mike is an artist and podcaster with a passion for nature. He especially enjoys creating intricately detailed drawings using a simple 2B graphite pencil. In his podcast, Drawing Inspiration, Mike explores the world of art through his own experience and through interviews with a wide range of guests.

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Bethan Burton Bethan Burton

Episode 57: Brenna Quinlan – Art as activism

Brenna is a permaculture illustrator who uses her art as a form of activism. Her work tackles big topics like politics, over consumption and the climate crisis, but always with a focus on positive solutions. Viewing her work will make you want to jump up and do something to make a positive change!

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Bethan Burton Bethan Burton

Episode 56: Jane Blundell – A world of colours

Jane is recognised as one of the art world's foremost authorities on colour and colour mixing. She teaches workshops on watercolour technique and has collaborated with Daniel Smith Artists’ Materials to create the Ultimate Mixing Palette. She even has a colour named after her - Jane's Grey!

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Bethan Burton Bethan Burton

Episode 55: Ayoka Kaiser – Say It Visually

Ayoka is a visual trainer and information illustrator. She uses the tools and techniques of sketchnoting to simplify and communicate information. Combining sketchnoting with her gratitude practice, Ayoka has invented a new form of creative expression - GratiDoodling!

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Bethan Burton Bethan Burton

Episode 54: Kelly Johnson – Wings, Worms and Wonder

Kelly is a creative nature connection guide. Her work involves giving children and adults a variety of opportunities to connect with nature through creativity. Kelly has written many books on nature and art including her most recent book Draw Yourself Back to Nature.

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Bethan Burton Bethan Burton

Episode 53: Billie Jo Reid – Learning to be curious

Billie Jo is an outdoor educator with the Peel District School Board. Before the pandemic, Billie Jo was teaching in-person at local field centres. Now she is bringing nature journaling to children of all age groups, inventing creative ways to connect students with nature through the virtual classroom.

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