As a self-taught nature illustrator, Ferne Glannan-MacRae brings the intricacies of British species to life using Procreate on iPad. Her designs are inspired by a love for the environment and, in particular, British wildlife.
With a background in the design industry and a degree in wildlife photography, Ferne uses intricate line work and natural colour palettes to create products that celebrate the beauty of the natural world.
We recently spoke to Ferne about her company, Ferne Creative, where she told us why the business started, how she decides which species to include in her collections, which charities she supports through her work and what new products she has on the horizon.
Firstly, can you tell us a little about yourself and what inspired you to start Ferne Creative?
I have been drawing since I could hold a pencil, with many artists in my family. I actually studied Marine and Natural History Photography at university, but after my Masters degree I worked as a designer in the printing industry. I always knew that I would hate office work and during lockdown I started painting again and ventured into digital illustration. It was after people online started enjoying my work that I turned it into a business and decided to leave my job. My business is split in two – my product-based business, which focuses on species I want to draw and things to make for nature lovers, and the other commission-based work for charities, nature reserves and other wildlife organisations.
You have such a wide range of products on offer, with so many species featured. How do you choose which species would work on which product?
I often find that choosing what to draw is really hard, so I focus on species I would like to see – a manifestation list. I have started to create collections based on what other people are likely to try and find at nature reserves around the UK, such as Ospreys and puffins. As for which species suits which product, really I go with the flow of what product I want to focus on at that time based on what has been popular.
I love how you manage to ensure that the illustrations are true to life, and each animal or plant looks as it would in nature. Is this important to you and do you have a favourite species to portray?
I have always been a bit of a perfectionist, which I am trying to escape, but I do want all the species to have that sense of accuracy even if I am leaning away from 100% realism at times. My audience is nature lovers and they will notice and care if I miss something important from a drawing (I did get contacted about a ladybird with a missing spot before!). In terms of my favourite species to draw, I have found over time – and as will be clear from my products – that I love drawing birds! In particular, I love all the textures and patterns in their plumage.
You donate a percentage of sales from selected products to various wildlife and conservation charities. Which charities do you support?
I currently have two dedicated products from which I donate a percentage of sales. The first is my Hedgehog enamel pin, which started after my own experience with an injured Hedgehog and the desire to give back. The backing card that the pin comes on is a mini booklet with information to help people in similar situations with injured hogs and tips on who to call. In the past I donated to Secret World Wildlife Rescue, and now I rotate my donations to different Hedgehog-specific hospitals. My other product is an iron-on patch of a Scottish Wildcat. A portion of sales from these are donated to Saving Wildcats, a project aiming to help one of our rarest species through breeding programmes, releases and monitoring.
Do you have any new products on the horizon that you can tell us about?
After the launch of my bird of prey educational colouring book I have had my sights set on making a seabird version and there have been requests for one on butterflies. I love making these, with facts about the species, but I have been working on some simplified colouring books for younger children too.
