A California native, Rachel graduated from Humboldt State University in Northern California in 2002 with a B.A. in Art History and a B.S. in Science Illustration. In 2003, she completed the Science Communication graduate program in science illustration at the University of California, Santa Cruz and has since completed internships with the Ruth Bancroft Garden in Walnut Creek, California and the American Museum of Natural History in New York City.

Her artwork reflects a life-long interest in natural history, and a strong educational background in science as well as studio art and art history. She has travelled extensively and enjoys bird- and wildlife-watching, field sketching, and hiking. In 2004, she co-founded Pens & Beetles Studios with partner Andrew Recher. Pens & Beetles offers a wide range of graphic design and illustration services, with a special focus on natural history and science-oriented subjects. Rachel's illustrations have appeared in the Nature Conservancy magazine and the journal Nature.

She currently resides in Illinois. Rachel recently completed illustrating her first children’s book, Nature's Yucky! 2: the Desert Southwest, written by Lee Ann Landstrom & Karen Shragg.

the Pens&Beetles Pictures Pages