In Review: How to Watch Wildlife by Julie Campbell

By John Freeman on September 24, 2025 • ( 0 )

Alongside comics, I’ve had a casual but lifelong interest in wildlife, instilled through living in the countryside and Sunday walks through local Forestry land. I’ll never forget, hopefully, seeing an adder shed his skin, or, indeed, nearly stepping on one (thanks for the save, Dad! That might have been a painful experience); or, later in life, seeing red squirrels, in Scotland; or helping baby turtles out to sea on a beach in Turkey.

So as I was working on promotional items for this weekend’s Lakes International Comic Art Festival, I was delighted to come across Scottish artist Julie Campbell’s recently-published How to Watch Wildlife, and grabbed a copy straight away from her Etsy shop.

Published thanks to a successful Kickstarter earlier this year, it’s a A fun, thoroughly enjoyable pocket-sized guide to enjoying nature in the UK; crammed with useful tips on, well, How To Watch Wildlife, beautifully drawn images of various animals, and joyous asides from Julie, outlining her experience of the countryside around us, and how it’s not only inspired, but shaped her world view and wellbeing.

Not only is How to Watch Wildlife a useful book for beginners or experienced wildlife watchers, it’s a perfect example of how comics can be used to tell more than just fictional stories, perfectly complementing some fantastic tips on getting the most out of observing the natural world around us. Definitely recommended, and much enjoyed.

Grab a copy here from Julie’s Etsy shop – or, if you’re at LICAF in Bowness this weekend, buy a copy from her direct, at her stand in the Lakeside Comic Marketplace. (Other fine comic creators and publishers there, too!)

John Freeman

Julie Campbell is a freelance illustrator and comic creator based in Fife, Scotland. The main focus of her work is in illustration – where she enjoys creating creatures, characters and stories. This love of stories and art naturally spill over into comics, and she creates work based on a mix of different themes, from nature to fantasy and stories for children.

Although Julie can be influenced by many things, she takes greatest inspiration from animals – both real and imaginary – and nature in general.

Julie Campbell is online at juliecampbelldraws.com

Julie also has a newsletter at juliecampbelldraws.substack.com, where you can keep updated about what she’s up to

Facebook – Information on Julie’s latest projects, new products and upcoming events

Instagram – Behind the scenes look at current work and influences

X – Behind the scenes about Julie’s work and comics

About the Author
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John Freeman

John is the founder of downthetubes, launched in 1998. He is a comics and magazine editor, writer, and Press Officer for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He also runs Crucible Comic Press.

Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine and Overkill for Marvel UK, Babylon 5 Magazine, Star Trek Magazine, and its successor, Star Trek Explorer, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics; and has edited several comic collections and graphic novels, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”, and Hancock: The Lad Himself, by Stephen Walsh and Keith Page.

He’s the writer of comics such as Pilgrim: Secrets and Lies for B7 Comics; “Crucible”, a creator-owned project with 2000AD artist Smuzz; and “Death Duty” and “Skow Dogs”, with Dave Hailwood.