As a nature artist, my particular passion is the continued, patient recording of a specific place and the wildlife that frequents it. Regular visits to the same place never become boring as I always discover something new, be it the flora and fauna along the riverbank, or the character of the river as it ebbs and flows. I document this in my nature journals - books that I fill with sketches and notes. Rivers are a perfect environment for creatively recording nature. I am lucky enough to live close to a river that discharges into the sea in my home town. Documenting the seasonal changes in this river and its tributaries has brought me much joy, and getting to know the plants and birds that inhabit the river has been a wonderful learning experience. Accessing blue-green spaces is known to be great for our health and wellbeing. In addition, by getting to know our river we can recognise the signs of environmental damage and become valuable stewards of these crucial natural environments.

In this book, I hope to inspire you to get to know a river close to you. I will share a range of different methods to help you meet your river artistically and record the changes that you observe in graphite, ink, and coloured pencil. We will explore the river from source to sea, discover the wildlife that it supports, and understand how humans have interacted with it. By following the exercises, I hope that you will become more knowledgeable and enthusiastic about your local river as well as developing your artistic skills in a fun and mindful way.