10 June 2024

The Galápagos Islands Burst with Life in Amy Grimes’ New Book

Posted in: Children's books, Nature, Process

Amy Grimes has illuminated the The Galápagos Islands of past and present with a beautiful new children’s book for What on Earth books. In Galápagos Islands: The World’s Living Laboratory, the scenes teem with life, utilising a rich palette and painterly feel to help make the topics understandable and exciting. Amy explains a bit more about the project below:

How did you create the artwork?

I draw each page digitally using an ipad and Procreate. Once I’m happy with the composition I edit the spread in Photoshop, adding in hand painted textures and adjusting the colours until I’m happy with the final result.

Which was your favourite animal to illustrate and why?

There are so many to choose from! Probably the finches from the Darwin spread, I always love drawing birds so it was fun to draw all the different varieties of finches found on the Galapagos Islands, it turned into one of my favourite spreads.

Did you learn any new/interesting facts through the process?

I found it super interesting learning how the different islands had such a big impact on the features of each animal, such as the shape and colour of the tortoises shells. Also that there is a type of finch that drinks blood,  Vampire Finches!

Galápagos Islands: The World’s Living Laboratory is out now!