I now have some availability for illustration work! 🖌 My focus is Earth sciences, but I also take design and personal commissions. If you are interested, dm or visit my website: cameron-brideoake.com
I have been working with @mackenzie_kwak_parasitologist to produce a watercolour illustration for @illresearch, based on his research paper describing Australia's newest species: an endangered tick.
Heath's Tick (Ixodes heathi) is a parasite of the Mountain Pygmy Possum (Burramys parvus). It can only survive on this specific possum, which is critically endangered, so if the possum becomes extinct, so too will the tick. Interestingly, the tick has not been found to affect the health of its host.
Whilst ticks may appear to be unwanted, they are an important part of ecosystems. Though they can sometimes transmit those animal's diseases, even viruses are a natural part of ecosystems, as they can play a role in keeping populations in check; a delicate balance of interconnected organisms that goes much deeper than we can initially see.
Parasite research has great potential for controlling introduced pests, as well as medical advancements for treating and preventing tick-borne diseases.
I've been meaning to share more works in progress, as scientific illustration takes a lot of research and time to complete. This is Heath's Tick (Ixodes heathi) a new species described by @mackenzie_kwak_parasitologist which lives exclusively on the endangered Mountain Pymgy Possum (Burramys parvus). More info on this project soon!
Working on an ancient Australian ginkgo tree, Ginkgoites australis. Based on a fossil from Melbourne Museum that dates back 120 million years to the early Cretaceous Period. The continent of Australia was recognisable by that point, but was connected to Antarctica in the south.
I am researching prehistoric Australian plants, looking out especially for species which to my knowledge have not been illustrated before. This is Thinnfeldia feistmanteli, a dicroidium seed fern. Based on a fossil from Melbourne Museum dating back to the Triassic period around 250 million years ago when Australia was connected to the ancient continent Gondwana.