Tanya grew up on the Central Coast of New South Wales, where she developed a great love and appreciation of nature and the environment.
Developing an artistic style based on a keen understanding of nature, her work is characterised by high detail and a devotion to capturing the true spirit of the subject. Working from her studio in Jilliby, NSW, Tanya is constantly inspired by her natural surroundings.
Finding that she was constantly drawn to works portraying extreme detail and depicting subjects of flora and fauna Tanya has decided to combine these two aspects in her work as a Natural History Illustrator. Research of her chosen subject plays an important role in Tanya’s work and allows her to achieve an accurate likeness throughout her paintings.
Tanya holds a Bachelor of Natural History Illustration degree (Honours) from the University of Newcastle. This specialised degree is unique in Australia and one of only five degrees of this type in the world. Recently Tanya has been award a scholarship to undertake Higher Research study in the field of Natural History Illustration. She plans to focus her study around the German born explorer Ludwig Leichhardt. Her research, \”Beyond Exploration; Illustrating the Scientific Legacy of Ludwig Leichhardt will draw on the explorers field notes, diary entries and letters as well as his collection of over 4000 plants held in the Sydney and Melbourne Herbariums. From the information gathered, Tanya will illustrate a visual record of the plants collected by Leichhardt in Australia, over 170 years ago. Her work will focus on specimens collected from Brisbane Waters, Port Stephens, Newcastle, and the Upper Hunter where Leichhardt spent time exploring before setting off on his Northern Expeditions.