Biodiversity & Well-being Toolkit: Natural History Collections - 4d Wellbeing: Art and nature - UK Overseas Territories Conservation Forum

Wellbeing: Art and nature

Spending time in nature is good for our wellbeing, and so is art! You can enjoy art and nature by yourself, or in a group, whichever you prefer.

Combining art and nature can make us feel better. It’s also a good way to learn more about Montserrat’s biodiversity. Artist Lizzie Harper explains:

“When you draw from nature, it’s utterly absorbing. There’s so much detail to lose yourself in, and you have to concentrate really hard to capture what you see. Everything else falls away: you lose track of time, where you are. It’s good for mental health as you stop worrying, or even being aware of anything else. For me, it’s just part of the process of drawing. And I love it”.

Art and Nature: Monty's Messengers

In February 2025, a botanical illustrator, Lizzie Harper, visited Montserrat as part of the Darwin plus-funded project.

She spent time with Monty’s Messengers in the Montserrat National Trust Botanical Gardens. Lizzie worked with the group to develop their observation and art skills. They drew and painted some fantastic insect and plant pictures, inspired by the species living in the gardens.

Lizzie also worked with Monty’s Ambassadors, and members of the public. Everyone enjoyed learning new skills, and spending time in nature.

Tips for your own artwork!

Lizzie the artist has prepared some step-by-step instructions so you can draw your own butterflies and birds.

Before you start drawing, try to watch animal you want to draw. Try doing some quick sketches in a notebook. This helps you learn the animal.

If you can’t watch the animal you want to draw, photos can be helpful. Try looking on this website for an animal you’d like to draw. It’s worth looking at illustrations as well as photos, often these include really important information like the feet of a bird.

It’s worth drawing the animal on a piece of thin paper first, with pencil, not on the paper you might want to add colour to. It’s worth spending time getting the shapes right, and you might need to rub lines out and tweak things before you get to your final drawing.

Click on each image for some more tips on drawing butterflies and birds!

Monty's Messengers' Biodiversity Rainbow

Monty’s Messengers also spent some time exploring the Botanical Gardens, looking for the colours of the rainbow. We took photos of the plants we found.

We used our photos to make our own Biodiversity Rainbow!