A passion for natural history is a driving force in the lives and careers of Chris and Christy Dewees.  Since childhood fish have been Chris’s passion and plants have fascinated Christy. Their earliest memories include fishing off the docks in San Francisco Bay and walking through fields of flowers in the hills and mountains of California.

Chris’s career revolved around research and outreach related to marine fishes and the human dimensions of fisheries management.  Christy works as a part-time freelance illustrator specializing in plants and volunteers leading tours for school groups at the UC Davis Arboretum.

Art is a creative way for Chris and Christy to share their passion and knowledge of nature from their studio in Davis, California.  Chris has focused on Japanese fish printing (gyotaku) since 1968.  His works have been featured in many individual and group exhibitions around the world. In 1976 he co-founded the Nature Printing Society, an international organization promoting awareness and education about creating art from natural objects.

Christy has a degree in botanical illustration from University of California at Davis.  Her illustrations have ranged from pen and ink drawing used in educational bulletins to the painting of a harpsichord soundboard.  Christy also is a nature printer and enjoys working with plant prints on fabric.