Anna Atkins calendar

Anna Atkins tribute calendar – the calendar is here!

As many cyanotypers know, Anna Atkins was a pioneer and the first person to make a book with photographs. We are announcing a call for entries to create cyanotypes in Anna Atkins’ style. 12 cyanotypes will be selected for a calendar. See all the entries in the Anna Atkins tribute gallery See the 12 winners here Get the Anna Atkins tribute calendar 2024 Unlock the beauty of nature with Anna … Read more

Anna Atkins created labels with the specimen's scientific name at the bottom of the page.

How to print an Anna Atkins cyanotype

Apart from being a brilliant scientist and botanist, Anna Atkins was also an artist. She created numerous prints from plants, lace and feather arrangements. This is how you can print your own cyanotypes in Anna Atkins’ style. We have done research, but not managed to find out a lot on paper or oils used, so if you possess ANY knowledge at all in terms of which paper or oil was … Read more

Illustration from Fiona Robins book Bluest of Blues

Interview with Fiona Robinson author and illustrator of an Anna Atkins children’s book

I came across a beautifully illustrated book called The Bluest of Blues: Anna Atkins and the first book of photographs and naturally became intrigued. I wanted to know more and set up an interview with the creator Fiona Robinson. Photography and illustrations / Fiona Robinson Interviewer / Malin Fabbri Why a book on Anna Atkins? Fiona Robinson: I’m an author and illustrator of children’s picture books. Before creating The Bluest … Read more

Photograph of Anna Atkins from 1861, licensed by Creative Commons.

Anna Atkins

In 1843 Anna Atkins published the first book of photography made using the cyanotype process called British Algae: Cyanotype Impressions. If you are a cyanotyper, you may also be interested in our tribute event to this true pioneer. Anna Children (maiden name of Anna Atkins) is born 16th of March 1799 in Tonbridge, Kent, UK, the daughter of John George Children (1777-1852) and Hester Anne Holwell (1777-1799). The house of … Read more