Illustrator

Tomas Vrana

Natural history plates in ink and watercolour. Prague.

See the work

I draw the things a field guide would show you: plants, birds, insects and fish, in ink line and watercolour wash. The plates go into books, onto bottles and across magazine pages, for publishers, distillers and editors who want the real animal rather than a mascot.

What I draw, and for whom

Four kinds of commission. Every one starts as a pencil drawing from life or from the museum drawers.

Field guides and books

Full plate sets for identification guides and natural history titles, from the species list to the final scans.

Labels and packaging

Botanical artwork for spirits, ciders, teas and preserves, drawn to sit well on paper and on glass.

Editorial and spot

Covers and small drawings for magazines and newspapers, usually on a two-week turnaround.

Picture books

Animal characters that still look like the animal, for stories that come out after dark.

Have something in mind?

Write to me

Latest plates

The most recent six. Each one opens with its notes and the commission behind it.

Commissions

Drawing for 2027 is open.