Pufferfish are wonderfully strange subjects for a wildlife artist. With their rounded bodies, expressive faces, unusual proportions and remarkable defence mechanisms, they have plenty of personality even before you start drawing them.
These children-friendly ink illustrations were inspired by my fascination with these extraordinary fish and created with younger nature enthusiasts in mind. I wanted to capture their distinctive character in a way that was informative and engaging without making the drawings overly technical.
Pufferfish are particularly famous for their ability to inflate their bodies when threatened, transforming themselves into a much less appetising prospect for a potential predator. Many species also contain tetrodotoxin, a powerful neurotoxin that can be fatal if ingested. Some pufferfish are considered a delicacy in Japan, but preparing them for consumption requires specialist training because of the risks involved.
I came across pufferfish in a rather memorable setting while travelling in Osaka, Japan. We passed an aquarium tank full of them outside a restaurant, where they were being kept before becoming part of someone's dinner. We were considerably happier admiring them through the glass and appreciating their ingenious survival strategies from a safe distance.
For me, encounters like this are part of what makes wildlife illustration so enjoyable. A drawing can preserve a moment of curiosity and turn an unusual animal into an opportunity to learn more about the natural world.
I created these illustrations with two young fish enthusiasts in mind, Elliot and Hal from Sallins, who are particularly fascinated by fish. I was thinking of their enthusiasm while drawing these wonderfully odd-looking creatures.
I enjoy creating wildlife illustrations that can appeal to children without losing the accuracy and observational detail that are important to natural-history art. Fish, insects and other less conventionally 'cute' animals can be especially rewarding in this respect, because a strong illustration can help reveal the character and beauty in species that children might not otherwise notice.
The project is part of my wider interest in making wildlife and natural history accessible, engaging and visually memorable, whether through children's publishing, educational illustration, public art or personal projects.
