Lou Johns is an artist currently based in Redruth, Cornwall, and is renowned for her evocative animal illustrations, among many other diverse subjects.

Studying Foundation in Art and Design and Graphic Design and Illustration, Lou gained early recognition through projects with Liberty and Harrods, creating a range of animal-themed greeting cards.

An opportunity to hone her artistic precision by blending her love for anatomy and illustration arose in 1992 when she contributed medical illustrations to the Science Photo Library, a leading provider of high-quality images widely used for education, research, and media.

Lou relocated to Cornwall in 1994 and immersed herself in the local art scene by contributing to various galleries, which at one point led to a collaboration with a local printer on client illustration projects. She spent several years based at Krowji, Cornwall’s largest creative hub, and her participation in Open Studios Cornwall has cemented her reputation within the artistic community. In 2009, she founded Studio 47, a cooperative gallery at Heartlands that further brought artists together.

Today, Lou works from her home studio, focusing on drawing animals with meticulous detail and emotional depth. A dedicated member of the Association of Animal Artists and the UK Colour Pencil Society, she uses her art to support animal rescue charities and raise awareness of the challenges the world’s wildlife faces. By highlighting the struggles of endangered and abused species through her heartfelt illustrations, Lou’s long-term goal is to inspire action and a renewed connection with conservation efforts to make a meaningful impact on the lives of animals and the natural world.