Birdwatching Through Drawing with Lottie
For our illustrator, Lottie Withers, drawing birds is a natural extension of spending time observing the world around her. What started as a long-standing fascination has recently taken shape as a series of bird illustrations inspired by garden birdwatching and everyday encounters with local species.
Her project connects closely with the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds’ Big Garden Birdwatch, an annual event that encourages people across the UK to spend an hour observing and recording the birds they see in their gardens or nearby green spaces. It is a simple idea reminding us how much wildlife can be found right outside our windows.
Lottie shared with us the motivation behind her collection of bird illustrations:
“As someone who is fascinated by the natural world, drawing birds has always been something I’ve been passionate about. The sheer number and variety of bird species is inspiring and I’m always on the lookout for new species to draw. I stumbled upon The Big Garden Birdwatch event in a BBC nature news article online and was immediately drawn to design a poster including UK garden birds from robins to wrens and goldfinches.
The new 2026 poster design was prompted by bird-feeders and how they can help birds to thrive in the winter season. Having a bird-feeder in my own garden allows me to observe all kinds of species from long-tailed tits to the surprising visits of rose-ringed parakeets.
I hope to spread the joy of birdwatching with my bird poster illustrations and encourage others to learn more about their local bird species.”
At its heart, Lottie’s work is about slowing down, looking closely, and finding joy in the birds we often take for granted. Whether you are an avid birdwatcher or simply curious about what visits your garden, her illustrations are a gentle invitation to take part.
If you’d like to work with Lottie, please contact: [email protected]
At illo agency, we pride ourselves in representing a collation of global illustrators, distinctly diverse in creativity and uniquely celebrated by like-minded clients across a range of commercial markets.