Science, fantasy, and worlds Between
Extravagant detail. Exquisite design. And always something a little unexpected.
Since 1992, I’ve worked professionally as both an illustrator and fine artist—three decades of painting for publication and beyond. Over the years, I’ve moved fluidly between worlds: from children’s science illustration to speculative fiction, from feminist figurative work to botanical portraiture, from gallery exhibitions to commissioned works for private collectors.
Throughout that time, I’ve also explored personal themes—ritual, identity, transformation—especially in my "Boundary Subjects" series. And world-building in my more recent Pelagic Worlds project. Bringing these threads together hasn’t always been simple, but a throughline is beginning to emerge: a fascination with the intersections between natural science, human mythology, and imagined futures.
Each collection here reflects part of that journey—linking science to wonder, design to storytelling, and imagination to meaning.
The Brood. Oil on cradled hardboard. 36” x 36”. 2025. A piece in a new series, Pelagic Worlds.
Storytelling is underneath it all
Whether I’m painting a pelagic dream-creature or a cluster of jewel-toned beetles, each piece begins with a question: What story wants to be told here? These collections span years and themes, but they’re all threads in a larger tapestry—glimpses into worlds both real and imagined. I invite you to explore them, follow your curiosity, and see what resonates.
Kest Collections for sale:
Children’s Science Book illustrations and More
Ready to dive deep down into the rabbit hole? Here are a few collections of my published illustrations ready for your purchase. All details are in each collection, but if you’d like to know more about a specific piece, or would like to see a larger image, please reach out.
