I draw by hand with pen, pencil, charcoal and aquarelle (or a combination). At the top some illustrations I created out of personal interest or to aid with explaining/communicating my own research or education; below you can find some of the projects I am/was involved in.
Project ‘Roffareefs and the Eggspedition’
2025-present
Pen and pencil drawings, some combined aquarel on diverse fish species and their eggs/young for Roffareefs and the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA).
I am very passionate about biodiversity and sharing science, so very grateful to contribute to both in reef fish reproduction and nutrition research at Roffareefs and their global citizen science platform Eggspedition to involve every one in reef fish reproduction studies!
Want to see and learn more?
Check out the EAZA Which Fish campaign 2026 (see poster in the diashow)! Or websites of Roffareefs and Eggspedition:
Project ‘My PhD’
2023-2024
Pencil and pen drawings and combinations of both techniques of pachyderm species, evolution, ecology anatomy and physiology for my dissertation.
Combined multiple drawings together for figures and cover and created silhouettes from the species on the computer (using MS Paint 3D).
Interested in my thesis?
In addition I created some images to aid explain my research for oral and poster presentation and for an interview on my thesis on my view on the differences between in situ and ex situ conservation on the black rhinoceroses. The interview can be found here: What are the implications of living in a zoo? – News – Utrecht University
Project ‘Perissodactyl lower limb anatomy’
2023
Pen and pencil drawings of the anatomy of the lower front limbs of the tapir, rhinoceros and horse, including some of the larger extensor and flexor tendons and collateral bands, for Hooves and Horns – Hoefverzorging!
Project ‘Drawings for the EAZWV’
2023-2025
Pencil and charcoal drawing of gorilla naturalistic combination with anatomy in situ and pen and pencil drawing African elephant trunks and ox pecker for the European Association of Zoo and Wildlife Veterinarians (EAZWV).
The EAZWV support zoo and wildlife veterinarians, the Hugo Fernandez Bellon Student Grants financially supports students to visit the annual ZWHC conference and publish their research projects in exotic animals and conservation medicine in the Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine.
Project ‘A lion visits the doctor!’
2023
Pen drawings of hearts in all vertebrate taxa, and drawings of several surgical techniques used in human cardiology for the exposition in the Rotterdam Natural History Museum.
Human and veterinary medicine collaboration is so important: There is so much we can learn from each other and from our ‘greatest architect’ nature! Very happy to contribute to this exposition in both content and illustrations! The exposition ran from 10-2023 to 09-2024 and was complemented by a special route through the Rotterdam zoo during this period Thank you very much for the nice collaboration DeVrijer and VanDongen, and thank you so much for the opportunity Erasmus MC and Natural History Museum of Rotterdam!
Want to see and learn more?
- https://natuurtijdschriften.nl/pub/1026173/STGR2023035002007.pdf
- https://www.hetnatuurhistorisch.nl/pers/persfotos-2023/persfotos-komt-een-leeuw-bij-de-dokter/
- https://www.hetnatuurhistorisch.nl/en/exhibitions/forthcoming-exhibitions/translate-to-english-komt-een-leeuw-bij-de-dokter/
- https://devrijervandongen.nl
Project ‘Snail anatomy, a dedication to prof. Zwart’
2022
Pencil drawing of in situ snail anatomy for Archeaopteryx.
This drawing was made on voluntary basis after invitation of Archaeopteryx as a dedication for prof. Peer Zwart. Archeaopteryx is the student association for Veterinary Medicine at Utrecht University.
Project ‘European eagle for the ZooMedConservation and the PZF’
2022
Pencil drawing of European eagle for the Zoo Med Conservation.
The ZooMedConservation supports students and veterinarians working with wildlife and exotic animals, the PZF financially supports MSc and PhD with research projects in exotic animals and conservation.
Want to see and learn more?
- https://www.zoomedconservation.org/ (more information on the Peer Zwart research Fund can be found on this website under ‘Research’)
Project ‘Research centre and veterinary department Rotterdam Zoo‘
2022
Pencil drawings of the anatomy of the black rhino (Diceros bicornis)! Both in situ and organs in detail (heart, bladder, spleen, liver), cell and its content, the cell organelles, nucleus, chromosomes and the DNA, for the Rotterdam Zoo.
Rotterdam Zoo/Diergaarde Blijdorp – Henk van den Berg did a fantastic job painting my pencil rhino and DNA explanation on the wall of the clinic of the veterinary department and public area of the research centre! Monique Spek was the projectlead and she did a great job on redecorating the vet clinic and brought Henk and me together.
