I’m Andrey Atuchin, a natural history illustrator and paleoartist based in Calgary, Canada. I specialize in scientifically grounded reconstructions of prehistoric life, combining current paleontological research with a traditional approach to illustration.

I was born in Siberia, Russia, and graduated as a biologist at Kemerovo State University. I originally worked as an entomologist, studying leaf beetles, but my long-standing interest in dinosaurs and prehistoric life gradually turned into a full-time career in paleoart. That scientific background still shapes how I approach my work: everything starts from anatomy, fossil material, and comparison with living organisms.

Alongside illustration, I’ve taken part in paleontological fieldwork and dinosaur excavations, mainly in Siberia. I’ve worked with real material in the lab as well: preparing fossils, studying specimens firsthand, and collaborating with researchers. That experience makes a big difference: it keeps the work grounded and helps avoid guesswork when reconstructing extinct animals.

Over the years, I’ve worked with museums, publishers, and research teams worldwide, contributing to books, exhibitions, and scientific publications. My work ranges from skeletal reconstructions to full environmental scenes, with the goal of showing extinct animals as real, functional organisms within their ecosystems.

In addition to 2D illustration, I create scientifically accurate 3D reconstructions of prehistoric animals for digital and physical formats.

Outside of paleoart, I also do wildlife and macrophotography. You can see that work on Instagram

My scientific publications are available on ResearchGate