Anatomical Taxidermy & Bone Art – My Etsy Shop Journey ☠️

My Etsy shop brings together my love of natural history and art through anatomical bone drawings. While the shop is currently on holiday as I build new stock, it remains an important creative project that combines scientific accuracy with artistic expression, while supporting my ambitions to work within museum and heritage collections.

🌱 Where It Began:

20/01/2018

My passion for anatomical drawing began during my GCSE Art course, where I studied the work of artist Paul Jackson. As part of my project, I carried out a detailed case study of his practice, exploring how he uses surrealism and anatomy to challenge perspectives. Inspired by his techniques, I created my own experimental art pieces, which allowed me to develop both technical skill and creative expression.

These early explorations laid the foundation for my continuing fascination with anatomy, natural history, and the crossover between science and creativity

—interests that remain central to my artistic

journey today.

Although my GCSE pieces are not for sale, they remain key to my development as an artist. Sharing these alongside my more recent bone drawings shows the journey of my practice—from early inspirations to the professional artwork I now create for my shop.

Currently, the shop is on holiday while I create new stock, but this period is giving me the opportunity to refine designs, plan new pieces, and prepare for a refreshed relaunch. 🏖️

🧰 Materials & Techniques:

• ✏️ Fine-liner and ink pens

• 🦴 Reference specimens from my personal collection

• 📖 Sketchbooks and archival-quality paper

• 💻 Digital editing tools for refining prints and Etsy listings

⚙️ Creative Process:

• 💀 Researching anatomical specimens and natural history references for accuracy

• 🖊️ Sketching and refining detailed line art designs

• 📷 Preparing high-quality scans and digital edits for online presentation

• 📦 Professionally packaging and dispatching orders to customers

White-tailed Deer Skull Art

Roe Deer Skull Art

Chinese Water Deer Skull Art

03/07/2024

Key Skills Developed:

• 🏛️ Museum-Related Skills – Anatomical observation and specimen detail understanding, translating scientific references into accessible artwork, and producing reproducible, archival-quality documentation

• 🧩 Problem-Solving & Adaptability – Experimenting with techniques for different species and textures, developing entrepreneurial marketing skills, and refining designs through trial and customer feedback

• 🎨 Transferable Professional Skills – Combining scientific accuracy with creativity, clear communication through listings and descriptions, efficient organization of stock and orders, and building confidence in self-promotion and customer service

My Etsy shop is not just a creative outlet but also an important part of my professional development. It allows me to combine my personal passion for taxidermy and anatomy with transferable skills that directly support my long-term ambition to work in museums and heritage collections. By treating each artwork as both a scientific study and a curated piece, I am able to bridge the gap between natural history and creative practice.

🦴 Check out my My Etsy Shop (Currently Updating with New Creations)

🎨 See more on my Instagram: @ArtyAce456

💀 See more on my Instagram: @BonesByShannon

💡 Enjoyed this post? Subscribe!

✨ Learn more about my work and aspirations here: My Portfolio