About

Erin Hunter, Biological Illustrator of Botanical-Entomological Art

Portrait of smiling Erin Hunter, Biological Illustrator, in an outdoor setting and jean jacket

About Erin

Erin E. Hunter is a fine artist and biological illustrator of botanical art who focuses on plant-pollinator relationships. Working from her Monterey Bay studio, Erin creates paintings and technical illustrations inspired by the natural world and the interactions between plants, insects, and animals. Erin’s California wildflower art and insect drawings highlight the impact that individual species have on the wider ecosystem, bringing attention to the significance of tiny honeybees, dazzling hummingbirds, delicate thistles, native plants, and other ecological treasures.

In addition to painting and exhibiting, Erin participates in speaking engagements on natural history, observational drawing and painting, and her artistic process.

Erin’s Story

When Erin Hunter was nine, her great-great aunt Alice gave her a copy of the Reader’s Digest Guide to North American Wildlife. Fascinated by the detailed color illustrations of flowers and insects and animals, Erin read all 559 pages. Her first ventures into science and illustration started with that book, where she checked off the plants and wildlife of her own backyard and drew birds in the margins.

Trading Monterey County’s vineyards and Pacific waves for almond trees and sunflower fields, Erin eventually headed inland and earned a B.A. in graphic design with a minor in Spanish at California State University, Chico.

After graduation and two years as a full-time graphic designer, she packed two suitcases and flew to New York City. Settling in Brooklyn, Erin worked assorted day jobs and freelance design projects to pay for night classes at the Art Students’ League and frequent trips to the Metropolitan Museum of Art and Brooklyn Botanic Garden. Between subway rides and adventures, Erin spent time simply sitting on park benches, observing the action around her and sketching the characters of the city.

Two snowy winters and a cross-country road trip later, Erin returned to the California coast and the Monarch butterflies, wild irises, and scurrying lizards that captivated her as a child. She enrolled in the prestigious science illustration program at University of California, Santa Cruz, and completed internships with leading scientific and consumer organizations including the Smithsonian, California Academy of Sciences, and Sally Ride Science. Today, Erin specializes in biological illustration, with a focus on entomological and botanical illustration, and her fine art paintings spotlight plant-pollinator relationships.

Erin has completed three artist-in-residence programs with the National Parks Service, sketching wildflowers at the North Rim of Grand Canyon National Park (2015), Hot Springs National Park (2017), and Guadalupe Mountains National Park (2018). She’s participated in solo exhibitions and group shows at the San Francisco Botanical Garden (2022), American Association for the Advancement of Science (2018), Denver Botanic Gardens (2014), and elsewhere. She has also illustrated four children’s books, taught botanical illustration and field sketching at UC Santa Cruz, and led numerous drawing and painting workshops.

When she’s not painting or working at the computer, she can be found puttering in her backyard garden or hiking in coastal forests. Her dog-eared copy of the Reader’s Digest Guide to North American Wildlife sits prominently on her desk.

Erin Hunter, biological illustrator, works in her office with her dog keeping her company
Photo from behind Erin as she adds color to an illustration of a caterpillar on a plant

Media Features and Public Speaking

Carmel Magazine Logo

Summer 2024 Interview

Denver Botanic Gardens logo

Intersections Lecture 2023

GNSI, Guild of Natural Science Illustrators Logo

Winter 2023 Article

2022 Reception Presentation

Autumn 2021 Article

Winter 2021 Article & Cover Artwork

2021 Podcast Interview

2020 Article Interview

Speaker at Annual Conference, Bar Harbor, ME 2013

2013 Radio Interview

Speaker at Annual Conference, Savannah, GA 2012

Getting Your Name Out There: Self-Promotion for Creative Types

Learn About the Conference »

2012 News Interview

Teaching and Instructing

Denver Botanic Gardens logo

Botanical Illustration Program: Weekend Workshop

California State University Monterey Bay

Summer of Science Illustration: Botanical Illustration Course

stanford continuing education boatanical illustration

Stanford Continuing Studies: Botanical Illustration

Stanford Continuing Studies: Drawing Flowers: An Introduction to Botanical Art

Exhibitions

For the past 15+ years, Erin has been featured in solo exhibitions and group shows, sharing her work alongside other Bay Area and San Jose artists in events throughout California and the United States.

2023 ▾
Solo exhibit at Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History, Pacific Grove, CA Solo exhibit at Monterey Museum of Art, Monterey, CA
“The Art of Nature”, Group exhibit at the Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History, Santa Cruz, CA
2023 ▾
Solo exhibit at Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History, Pacific Grove, CA Solo exhibit at Monterey Museum of Art, Monterey, CA “The Art of Nature”, Group exhibit at the Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History, Santa Cruz, CA
2022 ▾
“Wild Nectar,” solo show at Helen Crocker Russell Library of Horticulture at the San Francisco Botanical Garden, San Francisco, CA
2021 ▾
“The Art of Nature,” group show at Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History, Santa Cruz, CA
2020 ▾
“Flora: The Other Endangered Species” group show at Chico Art Center, 2020
2019 ▾

Group show of women artists at Pearl Hour in Monterey, CA

“The Art of Nature” group show at Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History, Santa Cruz, CA

2018 ▾
“Cross-pollination”, solo show at Open Ground Studios in Seaside, CA

“Art of Nature”, group show at Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History, Santa Cruz, CA

“Visualizing Science”, group show at the American Association for the Advancement of Science, Washington, DC “In Full Bloom”, solo show at Chesebro Wines, Carmel Valley, CA
2018 ▾
“Cross-pollination”, solo show at Open Ground Studios in Seaside, CA

“Art of Nature”, group show at Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History, Santa Cruz, CA

“Visualizing Science”, group show at the American Association for the Advancement of Science, Washington, DC “In Full Bloom”, solo show at Chesebro Wines, Carmel Valley, CA
2017 ▾
Group show at Chesebro Wines in Carmel Valley, CA

Solo show at Lula’s Chocolates in Carmel, CA

Open Ground Studios Member Exhibit, Seaside, CA “The Art of Nature” group show at Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History, Santa Cruz, CA
2017 ▾
Group show at Chesebro Wines in Carmel Valley, CA

Solo show at Lula’s Chocolates in Carmel, CA

Open Ground Studios Member Exhibit, Seaside, CA “The Art of Nature” group show at Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History, Santa Cruz, CA
2016 ▾
Group show at Chesebro Wines in Carmel Valley, CA Solo show at Lula’s Chocolates in Carmel, CA Open Ground Studios Member Exhibit, Seaside, CA

“The Art of Nature” group show at Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History, Santa Cruz, CA

Sandhill Crane Festival Art Show, group show, Lodi, CA
2016 ▾
Group show at Chesebro Wines in Carmel Valley, CA Solo show at Lula’s Chocolates in Carmel, CA
Open Ground Studios Member Exhibit, Seaside, CA

“The Art of Nature” group show at Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History, Santa Cruz, CA

Sandhill Crane Festival Art Show, group show, Lodi, CA

2015 ▾
Group show at Chesebro Wines in Carmel Valley, CA Solo show at Lula’s Chocolates in Carmel, CA “Wonders of Carmel River,” group show at Garland Ranch Regional Park Visitors Center, Carmel Valley, CA

“The Art of Nature” group show at Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History, Santa Cruz, CA

Sandhill Crane Festival Art Show, group show, Lodi, CA
2015 ▾
Group show at Chesebro Wines in Carmel Valley, CA Solo show at Lula’s Chocolates in Carmel, CA
“Wonders of Carmel River,” group show at Garland Ranch Regional Park Visitors Center, Carmel Valley, CA

“The Art of Nature” group show at Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History, Santa Cruz, CA

Sandhill Crane Festival Art Show, group show, Lodi, CA

2014 ▾
“The Art of Nature” group show at Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History, Santa Cruz, CA

“Nature’s Jewels,” California chapter of the Guild of Natural Science Illustrators group show at Tilden Regional Park, Orinda, CA

 

“Bay Area Wildlife”, group show at Filoli Historic House & Garden, Woodside, CA

Sandhill Crane Festival Art Show, group show, Lodi, CA “Wildflowers of Garland Park”, group show at Garland Park, Carmel Valley, CA “Birds, Plants and Pollinators”, group show at Denver Botanic Garden, Denver, CO
2014 ▾
“The Art of Nature” group show at Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History, Santa Cruz, CA “Nature’s Jewels,” California chapter of the Guild of Natural Science Illustrators group show at Tilden Regional Park, Orinda, CA

 

Sandhill Crane Festival Art Show, group show, Lodi, CA “Wildflowers of Garland Park”, group show at Garland Park, Carmel Valley, CA

“Bay Area Wildlife”, group show at Filoli Historic House & Garden, Woodside, CA

“Birds, Plants and Pollinators”, group show at Denver Botanic Garden, Denver, CO
2013 ▾
“The Art of Nature” group show at Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History, Santa Cruz, CA “Nature’s Many Splendors”, group show at Filoli Historic House & Garden, Woodside, CA

“Nature’s Jewels,” California chapter of the Guild of Natural Science Illustrators group show at Tilden Regional Park, Orinda, CA

Guild of Natural Science Illustrators Annual Exhibit, Bar Harbor, ME

2013 ▾
“The Art of Nature” group show at Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History, Santa Cruz, CA “Nature’s Many Splendors”, group show at Filoli Historic House & Garden, Woodside, CA

“Nature’s Jewels,” California chapter of the Guild of Natural Science Illustrators group show at Tilden Regional Park, Orinda, CA

Guild of Natural Science Illustrators Annual Exhibit, Bar Harbor, ME

2012 ▾
“The Art of Nature” group show at Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History, Santa Cruz, CA “Handcrafted and Through the Lens”, group show at Filoli Historic House & Garden, Woodside, CA

Guild of Natural Science Illustrators Annual Exhibit, Savannah, GA

California Native Plant Society Conservation Conference Botanical Art Exhibition in San Diego, CA Sandhill Crane Festival Art Show,  group show, Lodi, CA

2012 ▾
“The Art of Nature” group show at Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History, Santa Cruz, CA “Handcrafted and Through the Lens”, group show at Filoli Historic House & Garden, Woodside, CA

Guild of Natural Science Illustrators Annual Exhibit, Savannah, GA

California Native Plant Society Conservation Conference Botanical Art Exhibition in San Diego, CA

Sandhill Crane Festival Art Show,  group show, Lodi, CA

2011 ▾
“The Art of Nature” group show at Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History, Santa Cruz, CA “Nature’s Jewels,” California chapter of the Guild of Natural Science Illustrators group show at Tilden Regional Park, Orinda, CA

Guild of Natural Science Illustrators Annual Exhibit, Olympia, WA

2011 ▾
“The Art of Nature” group show at Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History, Santa Cruz, CA “Nature’s Jewels,” California chapter of the Guild of Natural Science Illustrators group show at Tilden Regional Park, Orinda, CA
Guild of Natural Science Illustrators Annual Exhibit, Olympia, WA

2010 ▾
Filoli Historic House & Garden Annual Botanical Art Exhibition, Woodside, CA
2009 ▾
Collaborative show with Ian Harlow Williams at Ol’Factory Café, Monterey, CA Filoli Historic House & Garden Annual Botanical Art Exhibition, Woodside, CA Solo show at Vino 100, Chico, CA
2009 ▾
Collaborative show with Ian Harlow Williams at Ol’Factory Café, Monterey, CA Filoli Historic House & Garden Annual Botanical Art Exhibition, Woodside, CA
Solo show at Vino 100, Chico, CA
2008 ▾
Solo show at Cafe Lumiere, Monterey, CA Solo show at Vino 100, Chico, CA Filoli Historic House & Garden Annual Botanical Art Exhibition, Woodside, CA Solo show at Cafe Limelight, Santa Cruz, CA
2008 ▾
Solo show at Cafe Lumiere, Monterey, CA Solo show at Vino 100, Chico, CA
Filoli Historic House & Garden Annual Botanical Art Exhibition, Woodside, CA Solo show at Cafe Limelight, Santa Cruz, CA
2006 ▾
“Illustrating Nature,” group show at Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History, Santa Cruz, CA

Work with Erin

If you’d like to discuss a possible commission, upcoming exhibition, or media opportunity, or if you’d like to inquire about a painting, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

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