Stephen Briggs Carlill

Stephen Carlill spent his days sketching animals at the London Zoo, scribbling quick notes in the corners of his sketchbooks while the lions and cranes ignored him. He loved watercolours because they dried fast—perfect for capturing a flamingo mid-dance or a sleepy bear before it wandered off. One sheet from his “Studies of Animals” series shows a parrot with feathers that look like they’re still quivering on the page. His work belongs in Gallery Tiles because you can actually see how he worked: grab a pad and a pencil, head to the zoo, and try your own quick sketches.