Artist Spotlight: Lisa Parker — Where Wildlife Meets Magic
Born in Devon in 1974, Lisa Parker grew up with pencils and the outdoors as her earliest companions. She started drawing “as soon as I could hold a pencil,” later honing her craft in Natural History Illustration at Bournemouth & Poole Institute of Art & Design. Her foundation in realistic wildlife art would become a hallmark of her future works.
Lisa’s creative path shifted dramatically when she began working at a picture-framing shop under the tutelage of the late Mick Cawston. He insisted she take her sketchbook everywhere. In Lisa’s words:
“He even marched me to an army outlet to buy combat trousers so I’d never be without my sketchpad. We sketched in pubs, on our bellies in the mud, even with our easels wedged in the river mud.”
Later, she joined a horse-drawing group, learning from renowned artists Malcolm Coward, Barry Peckham, and Colin Allbrook — shaping her mastery of oils and watercolours.
Determined to improve, Lisa balanced an 8‑hour job with painting four hours nightly. She honed her technique via picture framing, shop displays, and oil painting demos—often fueled by hearty soups of potato, parsnip, and carrot. Weekend visits to animal enclosures brought her up-close experiences:
“The meerkats used to bite! lol”
Her perseverance paid off with solo exhibitions at London’s Mall Galleries and on Madison Avenue in New York—even as she battled financial challenges .
Lisa’s artistry evolved further when she became the original in-house artist for Nemesis Now. Immersed in witchcraft, folklore, and symbolic themes, she shared:
“I got really interested in the magical side of things… we learnt together about witchcraft and the true meaning of it”
Her signature work, The Witching Hour, features a black cat amidst occult books and candles — capturing a mood that resonated with collectors worldwide.
Today, Lisa merges traditional and digital methods to depict owls, wolves, dragons, unicorns, fairies, and especially cats with a magical twist. Puzzle Warehouse praises her as “an animal artist with a magical twist,” celebrating realistic details, dynamic lighting, and enchanting narratives.
A fan shared on Instagram:
“Lisa Parker’s artwork has captivated the hearts of many”, echoing her broad appeal on decorative goods like puzzles, journals, mugs, and tapestries
Lisa’s journey is marked by dedication and real-world stories—meerkat nips, midnight soups, muddy field sketches, and combat pants always close by. These moments infuse her art with authenticity and soul, making each creation feel lived-in and emotionally rich.
Now a successful freelance artist, Lisa is buoyed by a robust social media network and collaborations with over 28 licensees, including Nemesis Now, Buffalo, Ceaco, Zippo, and Bicycle Cards. Her future promises continued exploration of magical creatures and deeper engagement with her growing fan base.