Icebird Studio

I have always been an adventurer. As a kid growing up in Victoria, Australia, I was fascinated by the natural world. You'd likely find me looking under rocks, climbing trees, making bird calls, and since I was an only child, having imaginary adventures. When I wasn't outside, I was drawing or poring through books—fiction, non-fiction, the atlas… whatever I could get my hands on. Today, living near the coast in Rhode Island, USA, I still love each of these things as much as I did then.

So, I’m very happy and grateful to have made a career that involves helping others bring their books to fruition as an editor, writing teacher, and art director, while I’ve continued to write, illustrate, make books, and spend time in nature and by the sea. I have more than 20 years of experience in the publishing world. Yet it has long seemed to me that a combination of all the things I love—nature/wilderness, writing, illustrating, discovery, and adventure—would be the very best sort of career to have. (I dreamed of it but didn’t know how to make it real.)

But in going to the Antarctic twice in an Outreach Officer role, and across the South Atlantic most recently, I am now living exactly the life I've dreamed of and in the most powerful of ways. These experiences have provided a life-changing shift in my perspective, focus, and future plans.

I am passionate about sharing polar and ocean science (and other science topics) with a broad audience and helping scientists develop their science communication skills. One of the most rewarding things I’ve done is ship-to-shore school and group visits from the JOIDES Resolution aboard IODP Expeditions 382 and 390, and in-person or virtual presentations to schools and the public.

As well as my work in publishing as an editor and art director, I am currently writing and illustrating various nonfiction science books for young people, creating science graphics, making fine art, and continuing my polar and other science outreach work. I also collaborate with Kevin Pluck/Pixel Movers & Makers, and last year we were asked to make animations for The Lake at the Bottom of the World, a full-length feature documentary about Antarctic sub-glacial lakes and the SALSA Antarctica expedition. Most recently, I have been exploring videography (creating a series of videos for IODP Expedition 390), as well as drone work. I am the US Outreach Coordinator for the multi-year Antarctic SWAIS 2C project (Sensitivity of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet to 2 Degrees Celsius of Warming), and I’m actively seeking my next outreach role on an Antarctic, Arctic, or ocean-going science expedition.

I offer:

• writing, blogging

• editing (fiction, non-fiction, rhyming verse, and more)

• illustration (including whimsical illustrations, realistic/scientific illustration, and graphics)

• animation (with Kevin Pluck/Pixel Movers & Makers)

• art direction, design, layout, typography

• expedition photography and videography, including drone footage

• video editing

• expedition social media management & content creation

• expedition/lab website design

• public speaking and school visits

• writing, art, and science communication presentations and workshops

Member:

Guild of Natural Science Illustrators

Graphic Artists Guild

Society of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators

Society of Women in Marine Science

Association of Early Career Polar Scientists