ROWAN

@rowanclair

Illustrator, surface pattern designer & printmaker 🖼️ Working digitally and traditionally 🎨💻 Lover of fantasy & nature 🌿

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ROWAN@rowanclair· 20d

I made the illustration a couple of years ago, but I still visit the place regularly. The rose is still there, creeping further along to different parts of the fence. Perhaps a reminder of the importance of patience and persistence.

Photograph of a broken fence with vegetation and parts of the wild rose

The wild rose in bloom in front of the fence

ROWAN@rowanclair· 20d

A wild rose & the inspiration 🌼

Illustration of a wild rose growing along an old fence entwined with barbed wire. The image is framed with branches of leaves and rolling hills can be seen in the background against a blue sky

Photograph of the wild rose and barbed wire fence used as reference

ROWAN@rowanclair· 25d

First count of this year in the garden. Like last year the weather has resulted in an amazing amount of insects even though the overall trends are worrying.

List of butterflies counted in a 15 minute session today. 1 small white, 1 small copper, 8 gatekeepers, 1 speckled wood, 2 red admirals, 2 holly blues

ROWAN@rowanclair· Jul 1

The time is here at last! My new shop is open, and you're invited to the launch of my first ever limited edition print run of this artwork, The Other Clearing ✨ shop.rowanclair.com/products/the... Thank you all for your support 💙

Illustration of a clearing in a dark forest with pools of water on the ground among the trees and vegetation. In the water is a reflection of a cityscape with skyscrapers in vibrant orange and yellow with a bright blue sky, contrasting with the murky blue-green colours of the woods. In the far distance an early sunrise can be made out through the trees.

ROWAN@rowanclair· Jun 29

Here's a video of me opening the sample of my new prints! I’m using a new printer and I’m extremely pleased with the quality, and I think you will be too.

ROWAN@rowanclair· Jun 26

Here's what it looked like when I was working on it. Not included: slightly incomprehensible sketchbook drawings prior...

Photograph of an ipad with a rough colour sketch of the illustration from the quoted post

Photograph of an ipad with detailed black and white lineart of the illustration from the quoted post

ROWAN@rowanclair· Jun 24

A significant part of that was observing the changing landscape, its fragility, and the impact we have on it as modern humans. I resolved that I wanted to return to making art based on these ideas, but I hadn’t figured out how to start doing it.

Close up photo of a holly blue butterfly on a leaf

ROWAN@rowanclair· Jun 24

They began to evolve, from more abstract thoughts of escaping into nature, to entire worlds that took on a life of their own. This time, I wasn’t only looking to escape, but to reflect the things I was experiencing too.

Photo looking up at the canopy of a forest with the sun shining through the leaves

ROWAN@rowanclair· Jun 24

But there's more to it. Here are some pictures of the the oldest work I have that deals with the same ideas. Many years ago, I was living in London and as much as I adored everything that city has to offer, it didn’t take long for me to start growing incredibly homesick for quiet, rural nature.

A dark room with a pool of water on the floor. A film is projected onto it of a circle of trees, looking up through the canopy of a forest, which is reflected in a distorted image onto the wall behind it.

A still image showing two circular projections of films on the wall of a dark room, featuring close-ups of trees and vegetation, giving the effect of peering through a small hole in a wall.

ROWAN@rowanclair· Jun 22

It's finally happening! My new print shop will be opening soon! Lots of people have been asking about prints of this piece, and I wanted to make it something special. It will be available in a limited, digitally signed & numbered edition starting on Wednesday, 1st of July!

An art print of an illustration of a clearing in a dark forest with pools of water on the ground among the trees and vegetation. In the water is a reflection of a cityscape with skyscrapers in vibrant orange and yellow with a bright blue sky, contrasting with the murky blue-green colours of the woods. In the far distance an early sunrise can be made out through the trees.

Close up of an art print showing a reflection in puddles of water of a cityscape with skyscrapers in vibrant orange and yellow with a bright blue sky.

ROWAN@rowanclair· Jun 18

My art is created with a desire to share something about my experiences, to communicate a feeling, an idea or a place. Sometimes those places are the ones I walk through every day, like this one. Sometimes they are places that exist only in my head. Sometimes they're somewhere in between.

An art print of an illustration of a green field surrounded by vegetation, an old broken fence and an overgrown path, with blue hills and clouds in the distance.

A photograph of a scene similar to the previous illustration, with green fields, trees and grass, blue hills, clouds in the sky.

ROWAN@rowanclair· Jun 2

Here's the full cover illustration I did for the Studio Ghibli fanzine New Winds! If you missed it last year, you can find it here: studioghiblizine.bigcartel.com #art #zine

Illustration of a selection of characters from Studio Ghibli movies in a lush, misty valley.

ROWAN@rowanclair· Apr 22

We are all here. #art #earthday

Illustration of the Earth in space, covered with swirling clouds, surrounded by stars. The atmosphere surrounds the planet with the aurora rendered in green at the poles.

ROWAN@rowanclair· Apr 14

A couple more recent pattern designs and illustrations. #PortfolioDay

Repeating pattern of hand-drawn amanita muscaria/fly agaric mushrooms

Repeating pattern of yellow ginkgo leaves

Illustration of the aurora borealis in shades of green, yellow, pink and purple above a forest of silhouetted trees

Illustration of a tawny owl flying over a snowy forest at sunset

ROWAN@rowanclair· Apr 14

Hi #PortfolioDay! I'm an illustrator and surface pattern designer, I love depicting themes of nature, fantasy and the environment with vibrant colours and detail and I'd love to work on some new projects. ⭐portfolio - rowanclair.com ✉️contact@rowanclair.com 🌟further links - linktr.ee/rowanclair

An illustration rendered in vibrant pinks and purples of a man shielding his eyes from the light as he looks up at a crystal tower in the sky. Tall trees frame the image and strange creatures lurk in the shadows.

Illustration of a green field with wildflowers on a summer's day. A footpath and old, battered fence run alongside the field, as does lush green vegetation and trees. In the distance there is a blue hill rising against the sky, with wisps of cloud.

A hand illustrated pattern design featuring a snowy winter forest with deer among the trees, in shades of deep and pale blue and white.

ROWAN@rowanclair· Mar 21

Thank you! It started with some pencil sketches which were drawn over and coloured digitally, here's what some of the line art looked like while it was in progress

Unfinished line art drawing showing a forest with pools of water on the ground

ROWAN@rowanclair· Mar 20

Currently on display at the Tales of the Uncanny exhibition! It ends next week, but I believe it will be touring elsewhere later in the year too.

Cheltenham Illustration Awards - Tales of the Uncanny
Free exhibition 9th-25th March 9am-5pm
Elwes Gallery, Park Campus, Cheltenham

ROWAN@rowanclair· Mar 20

In an ancient forest, shallow pools reflect not the trees above, but a luminous city of elsewhere. My shortlisted entry for the Cheltenham Illustration awards. Inspired by the changing landscape, childhood (and adulthood) fantasy, reflections, exploration of strange places... #art #illustration

ROWAN@rowanclair· Mar 6

The sun helped me photograph some sketchbook studies yesterday 🌞 #sketchbook #traditionalart #markers #acrylicpainting

Landscape study sketchbook page; field of green grass, pink, yellow and purple flowers, and distant pureple hills

Landscape study sketchbook page; green hills and mountains lit up by the sunset in shades of orange and pink

Landscape study sketchbook page; dense arrangement of dark green leaves on the forest floor

Landscape study sketchbook page; grass seed heads in pink and purple against a blue sky

ROWAN@rowanclair· Mar 1

In the spirit of my last posts - tomorrow is my birthday and what I'd like to ask for is for you to share something you've made with me! Here's some of my own art to start things off, but it doesn't have to be like that. Crafts, photos, music, writing... all counts... but it has to be from YOU

Illustration of the aurora borealis, in vibrant colours against a starry winter night sky, with dark silhouettes of trees in the foreground.

Artwork showing willow saplings, white flowers and seed heads blowing in the breeze, in front of a wooded area. Two white butterflies fly among the vegetation.

A cyanotype print of a jellyfish surrounded by sea anemones.

Illustration of a white, snow-covered tree in a winter landscape, with a line of more snowy trees visible in the distance against blue hills. The sky is a soft gradient of pink, green and blue.

ROWAN@rowanclair· Feb 26

Snowdrops 🌱

ROWAN@rowanclair· Feb 20

My first surface pattern design ➡️ my favourite! My favourite here may be a few years old now, but it makes a perfect comparison because it was such a huge turning point for me. The cherry pattern was fun but it wasn't really "me". I didn't have a strong sense of the kind of art I wanted to make.

The first pattern design I created, simple drawings of cherries and leaves on a light coloured background

My favourite pattern design: a dense, detailed forest in lush greens with a waterfall flowing through the centre

ROWAN@rowanclair· Feb 9

I'm enjoying this a lot, and it seems like I'm in a good place :)

Screenshot of the Bluesky map showing @rowanclair in the midst of creative industy professionals, visual artists & illustrators, digital artists, FFXIV artists and international artists groups

ROWAN@rowanclair· Feb 4

Today's sketch 🌿 #traditionalart #mixedmedia #painting #sketchbook

A small mixed media sketch of a white queen anne's lace/wild carrot flower and dark green leaves on a light green background, created with acrylic paint, various markers, and fineliners

ROWAN@rowanclair· Jan 22

Magpie moth & caterpillar study from my sketchbook 🦋🐛

Coloured pencil drawing of a magpie moth and caterpillar, both of which have patterns of orange and black spots on white.

ROWAN@rowanclair· Jan 21

My etsy shop has reached 1000 sales! Thank you to everyone who has helped make this happen 😊 Here's the link if you want to take a look! rowanclair.etsy.com

Screenshot of my Etsy shop dashboard showing over 1000 sales

ROWAN@rowanclair· Jan 6

QRP with your flower art 🌻

Illustration of a wild rose climbing along a fence in front of a field

Repeat pattern design with blue roses on a dark background

ROWAN@rowanclair· Dec 31

Trying out acrylic markers (and a bit of alcohol marker) for the first time with these sketchbook doodles! Dreaming of green at new year... hope you all have a good one.

Photograph of a sketchbook page with landscapes of hills and blue sky, clouds, trees and other greenery, surrounded by marker pens

ROWAN@rowanclair· Dec 22

Here's my #artsummary for 2025! Despite everything, I seem to have ended the year in a pretty good place. I'm taking some time to rest for now but I'm feeling more positive about my direction than I did a few months ago. Wishing you all the best for the new year too.