From Velvet Curtains To Wooden Spoons: I Transform Everyday Objects Into Nature Costumes

I don't need it to be "Spooky Season" to dress up. I spend my time drawing, then dressing up as my subjects—mostly birds, sometimes bugs, a bat, a fish...

I use a combination of my clothes, vintage finds, homemade props, makeup, and styling to echo the wonder of nature. Sometimes daft, occasionally hilarious, but mostly beautiful, these looks have been featured in exhibitions and museums from Queer Britain to BBC's Winterwatch.

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12 PHOTOS

#1 Mallard (Anas Platyrhynchos)

I use everything from clothes pegs to a wooden spoon, a bowl covered in fabric, a velvet curtain from Oxfam, or just that perfect jacket. I have made pom-poms, a patchwork corset, a papier-mâché crown, and an embroidered bib. Now that I've reached a milestone, I call these creations "Gentle References," I've made 100 of them so far.

#2 Andean Cock-Of-The-Rock (Rupicola Peruvianus) - With Home-Made Pom-Pom

#3 Eurasian Coot (Fulica Atra) - With Painted Wooden Spoon, Face Adornment

It's not just for fun—I use my illustrations to inform my research, which I post on my blog, Birds Can Fly. There, I reveal how I make my outfits and explore the history and cultural context of the creatures I draw.

#4 Golden Eagle (Aquila Chrysaetos)

#5 Nuttall’s Woodpecker (Dryobates Nuttallii) - With Home Made Fascinator

#6 Domestic Pigeon (Columba Livia Forma Domestica)

#7 Amazonian Royal Flycatcher (Onychorhynchus Coronatus) - With Papier-Mâché Crown

#8 Rosy Maple Moth (Dryocampa Rubicunda)

#9 Snowy Owl (Bubo Scandiacus)

#10 Grey Crowned Crane (Balearica Regulorum)

#11 Cedar Waxwing (Bombycilla Cedrorum)

#12 Greater Horseshoe Bat (Rhinolophus Ferrumequinum) - With Cardboard Face Adornment