Millie Marotta is the Illustrator behind Woodland Wild Pocket Colouring Book and a pioneer in the global colouring movement. Millie’s intricate illustrations are inspired by a love of wildlife and fascination with the natural world.
In 2015, Millie’s debut title Animal Kingdom spent a record 22 weeks as the official paperback non-fiction No.1. Since then, she has sold 9 million books around the world and her books have been translated into over 30 languages. Her books include Tropical Wonderland, Wild Savannah, Curious Creatures and Beautiful Birds and Treetop Treasures. Enter to win a copy of Millie’s new book Woodland Wild and download a free illustration to colour in via the link below.
Q. You have a wonderful job creating nature-themed colouring books, how did you get started?
I’ve been fascinated by the natural world since as far back as I can remember and have always loved being creative. So, when I discovered I could study Wildlife Illustration it was a dream come true. It wasn’t until quite a few years later, working as a freelance Illustrator that my publisher approached me with the idea of putting my first colouring book together. I immediately thought it would be a really exciting project and felt my detailed, intricate drawing style lent itself perfectly to illustrations suited for adults to colour in. I didn’t really have to give it a great deal of thought and couldn’t wait to get started. At that time, colouring books for adults really weren’t the ‘phenomenon’ that they have become, but I just loved the idea of being able to offer beautiful and sophisticated nature-based illustrations for grown-ups to colour, whilst at the same time championing the idea that everyone can be creative.
Q. Do you follow a process for creating each illustration?
I draw each illustration at the same size as they appear in the book and will begin with a rough hand-drawn pencil sketch of the complete illustration. These ‘roughs’ usually end up being quite detailed by the time I’ve finished as I like to have the page as planned out as possible before I begin the final piece. Some images come together very quickly while others may take a little more thought, planning or re-working. Once I’m happy with my rough it’s time to draw up the final artwork. For this I use a very fine steel nibbed pen, using my pencil sketch as a guide, this time adding even more detail as I work. Once the inked drawing is complete it’s simply a case of scanning the illustration, ready for sending to my publisher. The only other process that I sometimes go though is to turn an illustration into a repeat pattern, which I do digitally.
Q. Your beautiful drawings are of the natural world; do you enjoy being in the outdoors? Can you describe your ideal day out in nature?
I love being outdoors. I spend a lot of time at my desk, so getting outside is a good way for me to ‘re-set’. My dog, Olga, ensures that I get out there every day, come rain or shine, or gale or snow. An ideal day out in nature would be a long walk somewhere where there’s plenty of wildlife to watch, but not a lot of people. I live on the coast in West Wales so I’m very lucky in that I have lots of beaches and the coast path on my doorstep, as well as the mountains and some incredible woodlands to explore.
Q. Can you tell us about creating your new book, Millie Marotta’s Woodland Wild Pocket Colouring? Did you spend time in woodlands getting inspiration?
Yes I did. It was Autumn when I started working on Woodland Wild, which is such a great season to be out exploring woodlands. The colours at that time of year are wonderful and the light is golden. I’m not an Illustrator who goes out with a sketchbook in their back pocket, instead, I enjoy spending time in the environment soaking it all in; observing, listening, taking photographs and sometimes making short videos, which I’ll then use as reference back in my studio. For this book I visited woodlands local to me, ranging from beautiful valleys of broadleaf trees in every shade of red, orange and yellow that you could imagine to ancient forests, which were quite otherworldly with their gnarled trees and moss-covered rocks. I also recounted past travels to different types of forests around the world, from the rainforests of Australia to the jungles of Sri Lanka.
Download a free Robin illustration to colour in via the link below!
Q. Can you tell us about one of your favourite illustrations from your new book?
It’s hard to choose one favourite to talk about, I think it would be easier to say that my favourite ones to draw were probably those species that live around me, here in Wales. I think as they are native to where I live, I perhaps feel a little more attached to those illustrations. So, the badgers, wren, polecat and raven, amongst others. And not forgetting the hedgehog; I have a soft spot for these charming creatures, which when you think about it are really quite bizarre animals, like something out of a fairy tale. But sadly, also one of the species here in the UK which are seriously in decline.
Q. At the Future Forest Company, we protect ancient woodland and create new woodland, and on our sites we protect and enhance all forms of nature from plants and animals to fungi and microorganisms. Could you give us your thoughts on what we are doing?
The work that The Future Forest Company does is incredibly important and inspiring work. It plays a valuable role not only in conserving and restoring habitats but also in helping to safeguard a future for those habitats and the biodiversity that they sustain. Added to which, lending your expertise to landowners who are interested in restoring nature is such a positive and encouraging initiative; it’s a ‘win’ for all parties, including nature.
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