Gillmor retires as cover artist for New Naturalist series

Long-standing cover artist for Collins’ New Naturalist series, Robert Gillmor, is retiring after 35 years.

Gillmor joined the New Naturalist team in 1986 with his first cover for British Warblers by Eric Simms. This year he painted his 72nd and last for Ecology and Natural History by David M Wilkinson.

Publisher of the Collins New Naturalist Library Myles Archibald said: "After a long period of ill health Robert has decided to step down. The past 35 years have seen him produce some of the most beautiful covers in British publishing, redefining the series and book jacket design in general. A vital and unfaltering member of the New Naturalist team, he has been the most creative, patient, knowledgeable and amusing artist for the series and it has been my absolute pleasure to work with him. The entire New Naturalist team send all our good wishes, his contribution will be hugely missed, and his 72 stunning covers will stand as one of the great contributions to British book design."

Gillmor will be succeded by wildlife and landscape artist Robert Greenhalf, whose first New Naturalist design has just been published on the cover of Peak District by Penny Anderson.

Greenhalf said: "I was honoured to be asked to succeed Robert as the next New Naturalist jacket artist. The role is both daunting and challenging as I am very much aware of the high standard set by Robert and by Clifford and Rosemary Ellis before him. Robert’s work has been a source of inspiration and example to me since my teenage years and I feel greatly privileged to now know him as a colleague and friend. I will be using lino cut as my medium, as Robert did, to give some continuity to the look of the jackets, while at the same time putting my own stamp on the designs."

The New Naturalist Library was conceived during the Second World War to be a definitive record of British natural history. Launched with the first volume Butterflies in 1945, its subsequent 143 volumes have covered a vast range of Britain’s native birds, mammals, reptiles, insects and plants as well as its ecology, great national parks and unique ecosystems. Written by renowned experts in each field, it is the longest running and pre-eminent reference series on British nature.