Artwork by Keith Witmer
Blending science and art through illustration Hear about Marc Dando’s career as a wildlife illustrator and how he’s been drawn into the world of sharks and rays. Written by Chelsea Stein ”Sharks were like a magnet that I didn’t see. They kept drawing me closer to where I’ve ended up… if you look back, it all fell into place at the right time.” Marc Dando has created hundreds of science-based shark graphics and illustrations over his career, illuminating research and showcasing species specifics for various books and infographics. He has co-authored reference and guidebooks like Sharks of the World (2005), Sharks of the World: A Complte Guide (2021) and multiple editions of A Pocket Guide to Sharks of the World – all of which identify, illustrate and describe every known shark species. But Marc’s work hasn’t always been focused on sharks. He’s been creating art and illustrating since the age of 16, and his career has evolved over time as he has found a way to blend science and art through illustration. “I’ve always been able to draw but never realized it was anything like a talent,” he said. “As I’ve gotten older, I’ve been lucky to be surrounded by a lot of inspirational people – for me, it wasn’t a considered and planned career path.” “When I left university, I had a degree in Zoology but didn’t have a passion for sharks at that time,” he continued. ”So, I went into graphics and did all the usual studio-like work of menus, brochures and packaging.” Many of Marc’s friends were also working in graphics and design, and eventually, he started up his own business. He says it was through chance meetings and conversations that he was drawn to the world of sharks, rays, and chimaeras. Alongside the graphics work, Marc worked on detailed illustrations for commercial printers in his free time, one of which introduced him to natural history publisher Christopher Helm. From this meeting, Marc went on to work on his first book called Sealife: A Complete Guide for Marine Environment (1996). The book covered more than 600 species inhabiting the world’s oceans – everything from seabirds to otters to polar bears. “I ended up writing a chapter for the book and produced the majority of the illustrations,” Marc said. “And from then on, that was the path that led me to sharks.” From there, Marc and a colleague were planning to produce a book specifically on the world of dolphins. “As it turned out, we tried pitching the world of dolphins book to a publisher, and they
Artwork by Marc Dando
Ornate Sleeper-Ray (Electrolux addisoni)
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