Mesozoic Art II: Dinosaurs and Other Ancient Animals in Art
By (Author) Steve White
Volume editor Darren Naish
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
Bloomsbury Wildlife
1st January 2026
United Kingdom
General
Non Fiction
Palaeontology
Nature in art
Hardback
256
Width 302mm, Height 273mm
Following on from the hugely popular Mesozoic Art, this magnificent new volume showcases 25 amazing artists whose work represents the very best of palaeoart.
Our knowledge of how dinosaurs and other extinct species looked is continuously evolving with each new palaeontological discovery, as is the dramatic art that depicts these ancient worlds. Palaeoartists now have access to more information than ever before, allowing them to achieve greater levels of accuracy in their work.
Using fossilised material and the latest scientific knowledge, palaeoartists visualise and recreate creatures from the prehistoric world they put flesh on the bones of long-extinct species and their environments. It is through this imaginative artform that fossils can be brought to life in fresh, breathtaking detail.
Mesozoic Art II presents 25 new leading paleoartists who present life in the primordial past through a broad diversity of artistic styles and techniques, from traditional graphite pencils to cutting-edge digital art.
Arranged by portfolio, each piece is accompanied by an extended caption by the highly regarded palaeontologist and artist Darren Naish and editor Steve White.
The artwork featured offers so much more than images of dinosaurs: it also showcases the world they lived in, the other animals and plants that would have been a part of the species ecosystem, and their place in the history of life on this planet.
Palaeoart has truly crossed the bridge into the realm of fine wildlife art in both the quality and creative content of the work compiled in this tome. * Julius T. Csotonyi, palaeoartist and mural illustrator for the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History and LA Museum of Natural History *
This is an ambitious collection of some of the most breath-catching depictions not only of our world in the past, but our world at any time. Sometimes weird, but often startlingly natural, Mesozoic Art helps us see life in the past not as science fiction, but living, breathing fact. * Dr Elsa Panciroli, palaeontologist, author of Beasts Before Us and The Earth: A Biography of Life *
This book offers new, fresh, naturalistic and exciting depictions of our favourite creatures. Prehistoric Animals are not monsters and these young artists give them the respect they deserve. No doubt Mesozoic Art will inspire a whole new generation of Palaeoartists! * David Krentz, palaeoartist, designer, concept artist, storyboard artist on Prehistoric Planet, Emmy award-winning concept artist on Primal *
Steve White has worked in the comics industry for 35 years, as editor, writer and artist. He has been in love with dinosaurs since he was four and drawing them since he could hold a pencil. He now draws them on a full-time basis.
Darren Naish is a vertebrate palaeozoologist, author, public speaker, illustrator and technical consultant. He is the founder of the hugely influential blog TetZoo and lead consultant on the groundbreaking Apple TV+/BBC Studios documentary series Prehistoric Planet.