Our Planet Week 2026
After the success of last years Our Planet Week drawing challenge I knew I wanted to participate again; a new year, a new challenge and a new list of prompts!
I never anticipated when I took part last year how the illustrations I created would resonate with so many of you. It only became apparent to me after I printed a few of them to sell at markets that there was something in the messaging, or perhaps some of the subject matter, that really touched you all. They have now, to my surprise, become some of my best selling prints!
If you haven’t heard of Our Planet Week, let me introduce you to it: Run by artists and illustrators, Our Planet Week is a drawing challenge that allows creatives to respond to prompts inspired by the environment in their own way. The drawing challenge begins on Earth Day (22nd April) and runs for 10 days, with creatives producing artwork that sparks conversations and appreciation for the natural world.
This years prompts were Forests Growing, Rivers Flowing, Wind Blowing, Oceans Glowing and Seeds Sowing. I really wanted to focus on British nature for these prompts as a way to shine a spotlight on actually how diverse and beautiful our flora and fauna can be. I sometimes feel theres this preconceived notion that to truly experience awe inspiring wildlife or landscapes we have to travel to far flung shores and I wanted to use this opportunity to really shatter this belief.
The Inspiration
Forests Growing was inspired by our hidden temperate rainforests which I had been unaware of until reading The Lost Rainforests of Britain by Guy Shrubsole. I wanted to really convey the beauty and rarity of these hidden gems, highlighting key species that are found in these unique climates. Thanks to temperate rainforests we are seeing the return of beavers and pine martens, as well as being special homes to some very rare ferns and insects such as the Chequered Skipper Butterfly.
Rivers Flowing drew it’s inspiration heavily on the river Usk, a river that is a Site of Special Specific Interest (SSSI) and home to many species of fish, animals and plants. I wanted to capture the joyful motion of the river and the otters that call it home, as well as the special sparkle of the sun as it hits the surface of the water.
Wind Blowing paid homage to what I imagine to be the windiest place in Britain, at our tallest peak of Ben Nevis. Measuring 1,345 meters (4,413 ft) Ben Nevis is also home to many special animals, most notably Golden Eagles who nest in the upper craggy mountainside.
Oceans Glowing was my chance to show that you didn’t need to travel to exotic shores to see bioluminescence in the UK - although a very rare occurrence, bioluminescent plankton and jellyfish can be seen off our warmer coasts. Cue the Mauve Stinger Jellyfish, the star of the show for this piece, who glows in the dark when disturbed.
Seeds Sowing felt like a nice way to close the drawing challenge on a note of hope, and finding hope in some of the unlikeliest places. I wanted to highlight the tenacity of the humble dandelion, who despite being deemed a ‘weed’ is actually a crucial plant to helping bees and butterflies in the early spring months. ‘Nature finds a way, and so will you’ was my way of reminding myself, and hopefully others, that in the harshest of environments we can all thrive.
I am so pleased with how this years illustrations turned out, a set that are definitely a huge change from last years designs which were all black and white! As always a huge thank you to everyone who commented, liked and shared my posts over the duration of the drawing challenge. Your kind words have not gone unnoticed, and really kept me going during the moments I felt like giving up on the challenge because I didn’t feel the illustrations were good enough/would get finished in time etc.
If you would like to own one of these illustrations for your own home, they are now available in my shop in a variety of sizes, all printed on recycled material from my Nottingham studio.
