Profile
NATURAL SCIENCE ILLUSTRATOR, ARTIST & PHOTOGRAPHER
B.Sc. (Zoology)
B.F.A. (Honours in Wildlife Illustration)
Rebecca Robinson has a creative eye with a passion for nature, art, photography and travel. Dedicated to pursuing her interests, she has worked in a number of different fields: photography, natural science illustration and graphic design.
Rebecca has had the opportunity to live and travel extensively throughout the world. She was born in Hamburg, Germany in 1971 and grew up in Finland, Africa and America.
She later sought further education in Australia, graduating from the University of Melbourne in Australia with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Zoology in 1998.
Although she always managed to do a sketch now and again, her main focus at that time was science. It was not until her final year of study that she was encouraged to take her artistic talent seriously with the aim one day, perhaps, of marrying the two disciplines.
She then went on to complete a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree with Honours in Wildlife Illustration, at the University of Newcastle, NSW, Australia in 1999. Early in the year, she won first prize of the Black and White Illustration division Australian Entomological Society Insect Illustration Competition. Then in August 1999 she was awarded winner of the Margaret Senior National Parks and Wildlife Scholarship for Plant and Wildlife Illustration.
Shortly after leaving the course Rebecca was offered a position in the U.S. at the design department of the Marine Science Institute, University of California Santa Barbara (UCSB). In 2001 she left UCSB to become a professional freelance natural science illustrator and photographer.
In October 2003 she participated in a joint exhibition “The Art of Conservation”, at the prestigious Karpeles Manuscript Museum, Santa Barbara CA, USA (www.rain.org/~karpeles/)
For the next three years she worked predominantly for one US client producing highly detailed watercolour paintings of flora and fauna. In September 2006, she exhibited this work as part of: “Artistry & Necessity: Remarkable Women Illustrators” at the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History, Santa Barbara CA, USA.
Since then she has sold her work to private collectors, learning institutions, and has had her work published in books internationally.
She enjoys working in various mediums including watercolour, pen & ink, pencil, pastel, airbrush, digital, illustration and photography.
Natural Science Illustration is a meticulous process that involves research and observation as well as the artistic and creative challenges that are presented in any type of artwork. But for Rebecca these preliminary aspects are just as important for her motivation, inspiration and growth as an artist. Very often, for her, getting to know her subject, quietly, patiently, with sensitivity, respect and always with a questioning, open mind is just as enjoyable as applying that infamously tantalizing last stroke of the brush.
Art and photography is a means by which she can contribute to environmental conservation and education. She hopes that her work may spark curiosity and encourage a deeper understanding, and appreciation of nature. It allows Rebecca to work within her interests and to earn a living doing what she loves most.
Despite the persistent demand for commissions work, she maintains a strong desire for further creative expression, artistic growth and independence within her own art. This nomadic lifestyle has presented many unique and rare opportunities resulting in the accumulation of a large and highly collectable body of work, predominantly Australasian images.
Rebecca lives and works between her studio home on the beautiful east coast and wee flat in Hobart Tasmania, Australia
EDUCATION
1998-1999:
Bachelor of Fine Arts
(Honours in Wildlife Illustration)
University of Newcastle, NSW, Australia
1996-1998:
Bachelor of Science (Zoology)
University of Melbourne, VIC, Australia
1990-1996:
Associates Diploma in Biology
Santa Barbara City College, CA, USA
1986-1990:
Santa Barbara High School, CA, USA
EXHIBITIONS & AWARDS
Jan 2010 – Aug 2014: Artwork & Photography
Shop Display, Merchandising and Sales
Ugg and More Daylesford
Daylesford, VIC, Australia
www.uggandmore.com.au
6 November – 24 December 2010: Artwork & Photography
One In Ten – Joint exhibition by Rebecca Robinson & Darroch Donald
Gallery 775
Flinders, VIC, Australia
www.775artandcraft.com.au
24 April – 3 May 2009: Biological Illustrations
2009 Glenlyon Art Show – Joint Exhibition
Glenlyon Shire Hall
Daylesford-Malmsbury Rd, Glenlyon, Australia
16-19 April 2009: Artwork & photography
Art Melbourne 2009 – Joint Exhibition
Royal Exhibition Building Melbourne, Australia
9 June – 3 September 2006: Biological Illustrations
“Artistry & Necessity: Remarkable Women Illustrators”:
Joint Exhibition
Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History
Santa Barbara CA, USA
(www.sbnature.org/index.php)
(www.sbnature.org/collections/maximus/artistry.php)
1 – 31 December 2003: Solo exhibition: Artwork
Montecito Bank and Trust – Solo Exhibition
Santa Barbara California, USA
1 October – 31 December 2003: Artwork
“The Art of Conservation” – Joint Exhibition
Karpeles Manuscript Museum Santa Barbara CA, USA
(www.karpeles.com)
5 – 19 May 2003: Solo exhibition: Artwork
Montecito Bank and Trust – Solo Exhibition
Santa Barbara California, USA
20 Nov – 3 Dec 1999:
“Aerial, Terrestrial, Aquatic” – Joint Exhibition
Plant & Wildlife Illustration Honours Class
University of Newcastle
Royal Botanical Gardens Sydney, NSW, Australia
5 – 15 Nov 1999:
‘Fusion’ – Joint Exhibition
The Faculty of Architecture, Building & Design University of Newcastle
The Newcastle Regional Museum
Newcastle, NSW, Australia
23 Sept 1999: Artwork Award: Highly Commended
Maitland City Art Gallery
Plant and Wildlife Illustration Competition
Newcastle, NSW, Australia
2 Oct 1999: Artwork Award: First Prize
Black and White Illustration division
Australian Entomological Society
Insect Illustration Competition
Australia
16 Aug 1999: Award: Winner
The Margaret Senior/National Parks and Wildlife Scholarship for Plant and Wildlife Illustration, University of Newcastle
Newcastle, NSW, Australia
WORK EXPERIENCE
June 2015 – Feb 2015: Traditional & Digital Artwork / Whales, Dolphins & Porpoises – Field Guide published by Ivy Publishing for University of Chicago Press
Nature Picture Library (agent & stock library)
www.naturepl.com
Jan 2015: Donation of cartography services – full colour and black & white visitor services map
Parks and Wildlife Services Tasmania
Maria Island National Park
Tasmania
2010 – present: Gallery Manager
Overwrought metalwork and design
Daylesford, VIC, Australia
www.overwrought.com.au
Jan 2010 – Aug 2014: Photography / Sales & Marketing Services
Ugg and More Daylesford
Daylesford, VIC, Australia
www.uggandmore.com.au
2005 – 2013 (8 years): Owner/Partner & Principal Artist/Photographer
FIREBRAND Concept Design Production
Daylesford, VIC, Australia
2008 – 2013 (5 years): Artwork & Photography
Gallery 775 (Represented by)
Flinders, VIC, Australia
www.775gallery.com
May 2009 – January 2010 (8 months):
Co-Manager & Principal Artist
GALLERY 131
131 Nelson Place, Williamstown, Melbourne, VIC 3016, Australia
2009 (1 year): Co-researcher / co-photographer
‘Footprint New Zealand Colour Guide (with Best Photo Locations):
1st Edition, Footprint Travel Guides.
Paperback, 320 page, full colour. Average print run 8,000.
www.footprinttravelguides.com
Sept 2007 – Jan 2008 (four weeks): Photography
Thomas Cook Travel Guides
PO Box 227, Peterborough, PE3 8SB, United Kingdom
www.thomascookpublishing.com
East Coast Australia 2008
S-E Coast Australia 2008
August 2007(1 week): Watercolour Artwork
The University of New Hampshire Magazine:
The University of New Hampshire – Editorial and Creative Services
New Hampshire, USA
2005-2009(4 years): Natural Science Illustration
Saturdaze: Animal Diversity Project
Santa Barbara City College
Santa Barbara, California, USA
May 2006 – October 2009 (3 years 6 months): Author, digital illustration (cartography) and/or photography
Woodslane Press
Sydney, NSW, Australia
www.woodslane.com.au
‘Best of the Mornington Peninsula’ 2009
‘Sydney’s Best Picnic Spots, Parks & Reserves’ 2009
‘Sydney’s Best Beaches & Rock Baths’ 2009
‘Sydney’s Best Bush, Park & City Walks’ 2008
‘Melbourne’s Best Picnic Spots & Beaches’ 2007
‘Sydney’s Best Picnic Spots & Beaches 2007
‘Sydney’s Best Harbour & Coastal Walks’ 2006
June 2005 (4 weeks): Natural Science Illustration
Saturdaze: Sea Centre Project
Santa Barbara City College
Santa Barbara, California, USA
June – July 2004 (4 weeks): Illustration
Community Environmental Center
Marine Science Institute / Ocean O’ Graphics
University of California
Santa Barbara, California, USA
Graphic design and illustration
(1 year) Jan 2001 – Jan 2002: Illustration
Los Marineros Project
Museum of Natural History
Santa Barbara, California, USA
Nov – Dec 2001(I month): Pen & Ink Illustrations
Footprint Travel Guides
Bath, United Kingdom
www.footprinttravelguides.com
‘Footprint New Zealand Handbook : 1st Edition, Footprint Travel Guides.
Paperback, 736 page, full colour. Average print run 8,000.
Jan – June 2001 (5 months): Medical Illustration
Saturdaze: Molecular Project
Santa Barbara City College
Santa Barbara, California, USA
Apr 2000 – Jun 2001 (1 year 2 months): Digital illustration, Architectural Rendering and Traditional Biological Illustration.
Marine Science Institute (MSI)
Ocean-O-Graphics (Design department)
University of California Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara, California, USA
www.msi.ucsb.edu
Dec 2000 (4 weeks): Illustration
Saturdaze: Online Biology Courses
Santa Barbara City College
Santa Barbara, California, USA
1998 (2 weeks): Pen and ink illustration: Vertebrate Zoology Practical manual plate
University of Melbourne
Melbourne, VIC, Australia
David J. Young (Associate Professor and Reader in Evolutionary Biology)