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Richard Allen started as a freelance illustrator in advertising, publishing and newspapers. Work has gradually drifted towards his main interest of birds and wildlife, especially after winning "British Birds", Bird Illustrator of the Year 1993. A keen birder from an early age, a move to the Essex coast and the bird rich estuaries and marshes has refueled a passion for field-sketching. Recent travels to China,USA,S.E.Asia,Senegal and many parts of Europe have continued this interest and filled numerous sketchbooks.

The experience gained in the field has been put to good use in the many books illustrated, including, "Concise Birds of the Western Palearctic","The Handbook of Birds of the World","A Field Guide to the Birds of S.E.Asia" and the forthcoming "Sunbirds and Flowerpeckers". Current projects include, a book on Birds of Paradise and illustrating a regular gardening column in "The London Times" newspaper.

Richard lives in the village of Fingringhoe with views across country to the estuaries to constantly tempt him away from the drawing board.

Signed prints are for sale at £20 (plus postage for outside UK). E-mail Richard if you are interested.

Richard is also part of an exciting new website that will be launched very soon called Bird Illustrators.com. It will be the home website of a dozen or so of the world's top bird illustrators. We will be bringing you more details soon.


Having been present for a few days, this Rustic Bunting (below) didn't prove easy to find, as a brisk West wind blew through the wood at Stiffkey. A"tick, tick",from behind us revealed a bunting flying up from the saltmarsh and into the trees.The 1st winter bird then showed well as it picked aphids from the sycamore leaves.
A call from a fellow birder about a brief view of a juv Rose-coloured Starling on a local housing estate sent me off to investigate. I found the bird in a back garden feeding in a pear tree, A less scenic birding venue could not be imagined , opposite a derelict petrol station, next to a shopping precinct! The bird allowed a close approach and showed a few adult feathers appearing.
The sea at Titchwell, Norfolk always provides interest.This time (5th Oct), a moulting Red-throated Diver (below) presented the starter for the main course of a male Surf Scoter. Very distant at first , a passing yacht pushed the scoter flock closer and the Surf associating with a male Velvet Scoter gave reasonable views between the waves,the orange bill glowing in the sunshine.

See past sketchbooks click here