Illustrations by Katie Scott titled Jean Painlevé

Scott's project centred around exploring biological hybridisation. The A2 images will make their way into a large scale book and though inevitably finding themselves processed some way digitally with scanned watercolour swatches etc, the infinitesimal adjustments of hues and tones like a painter mixing colour, means her process could never be repeated twice. And the effect is quite beautiful.

“The foundation for this project came from a recent interest in early science and particularly antiquity’s habit of entirely fabricating the inner workings of the world around them. I like the idea that in an age of such scientific uncertainty, anybody with enough conviction in their theory (and a well drawn diagram) could claim science for themselves, resulting in incredibly strange and peculiar scientific thought. So with this in mind, my aim was to make a book of fantasy science, with a focus on the hybridisation between different categories of nature.”

At the time of making/creating this project, who or what was your biggest influence?
There was one blog that I can’t find now, which had the most amazing Edo-period Japanese medical illustration. They’re not fantasy but the style is beautiful.

What is the most valuable thing you have learnt at university to date?
To work bigger. And use colour. Two things I was terrified of before coming to university.

What are you working on at the moment?
I just finished my exam project: a catalogue of flora and fauna from Jules Verne’s novel Journey to the Centre of the Earth. Next I’d like to look into the reproduction habits of mythical monsters. But it’s degree show set up in 6 weeks, so soon that will be taking over.


See more of Katie's work here.