Here is a selection of my work.

Every piece started with a question. How does this disease spread? What does this standard actually ask of a grower? Why should a funder care about this finding? The drawing is the answer, made for a specific audience, in whichever style serves them best.

Blueberry leaf and twig blight.

Based on a co-authored peer-reviewed study (Van der Vyver et al., 2025), this visual series translates fungal morphology and dispersal mechanisms into an actionable narrative for on-site nursery teams.

Medium: The piece combines hand-rendered soft pastel integrated with vector-based technical schematics.

*Van der Vyver LS, De Bruin W, Siyoum N, Nsibo DL, Groenewald JZ, Crous PW, Korsten L. Exploring Neopestalotiopsis diversity associated with Blueberry leaf and twig blight in South African nurseries. Fungal Syst Evol. 2025 Aug;16:41-53. doi: 10.3114/fuse.2025.16.3. Epub 2025 May 13. PMID: 41041172; PMCID: PMC12486218.

Close-up of a scientific illustration showing a microscopic spore, conidiomata, and a part of a plant leaf and pot, with text explaining the structures.
Close-up of a brown surface with two black circular objects and the text 'Eyes of a spider' printed on it.
Illustration of a branch with green leaves and a cluster of small insects, alongside a stalk with grayish oval spore-like structures and white 'eyes' spreading across a beige background.
Close-up of a detailed illustration showing a dinosaur skull with a focus on the jaws, teeth, and upper skull, with a note about unsterilised pruning shears.
Close-up of a sneaker with a painted illustration of a shoe on a tan background.

Integrated Management of Penicillium spp. in Citrus.

A graphical abstract developed from a review paper by Bhatta (2022) regarding eco-friendly alternatives to synthetic fungicides. This layout uses a "Defend vs. Attack" narrative framework to categorise metabolic, physical and mycoparasitic interventions.

Medium: hand-rendered soft pastel integrated with vector-based technical schematics.

*Bhatta UK (2022) Alternative Management Approaches of Citrus Diseases Caused by Penicillium digitatum (Green Mold) and Penicillium italicum (Blue Mold). Front. Plant Sci. 12:833328. doi: 10.3389/fpls.2021.833328

Diagram illustrating alternative management approaches to prevent citrus mold: defending the fruit through secondary metabolites, physical barriers, enzymes, structure damage, and biological competition, leading to attack.

Ectomycorrhizal symbiosis and microclimate management.

This digital technical layout explores the subterranean world of truffle cultivation, illustrating the critical link between orchard architecture and fungal aromatic production. This style of visual storytelling is designed to support investor pitches, producer education and technical marketing for niche agricultural sectors.

Medium: Digital pencil drawing.

An illustration of a pine tree with labels showing the inside of a truffle, the truffle attached to pine tree roots, and the appearance of a mature truffle with a marble-like pattern and dark cell walls.

Soil microbiome and plant performance

This series explored the application and long-term integration of a phage-based bio-activator whereby it enhances nutrient efficiency and disease tolerance. This series was developed for technical marketing. A 1-minute motion graphic (not shown) was also developed for the client.

Medium: Watercolour, photography, soft pastel and vector elements.

Illustration of a gardening scene showing two plants with roots underground. A spotlight shines on the plants, and a circular inset shows molecules labeled 'Product X' with phages and plant extracts.
Illustration showing the bacterial lysogenic cycle in plants, including stages of attachment, entry, integration and replication, with a young plant and roots.
Diagram comparing untreated soil and soil treated with Product X showing reduced nitrifying bacteria and nitrates, including labels for soil layers, bacteria and nitrogen compounds.

Anatomical analysis of Solanum lycopersicum embryogenesis.

A digital-analog synthesis using soft pastels to capture the delicate, organic textures of the seed coat and embryo. This technique provides a biological "presence" that standard digital graphics lack, combined with technical labeling to meet the standards of publication and executive reporting.

Medium: Hand-rendered soft pastel integrated with vector-based technical schematics.

Cross-section of a tomato showing seed coat, seed leaves, endosperm and root at the bottom, with seeds outside the fruit.

Storytelling through graphic note-taking.

This piece pairs a personal story from my food safety auditing days with graphic note-taking to explain an invisible rule of food safety: the pesticide withholding period. A narrative scene, a hand-drawn decay curve and a simple visual summary turn a technical regulation into a story that can be understood in seconds. This same approach translates naturally to live settings, such as capturing conference talks, workshops and panel discussions as visual notes that delegates actually remember and share.

Medium: Hand-drawn digitally.

Explainer videos for education.

This is part of a series of technical sketches and social media communications that was developed to translate the complex EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) for the South African fresh produce export market. By using hand-drawn graphic note-taking and time-lapse video, the work breaks down dense legislative timelines, such as PFAS limits and compostability deadlines, into accessible, high-impact visual narratives for stakeholders in the agricultural supply chain.

A promotional post for Garlic, featuring a close-up photo of garlic. Behind it, there is a background with a sketch or drawing of garlic, and text that describes the health benefits and features
A promotional post for Baby Queen Pineapples, featuring a close-up photo of a pineapple among green leaves. Behind it, there is a background with a sketch or drawing of pineapple plants, and text that describes the health benefits and features of Baby Queen Pineapples.

Public science communication.

These examples demonstrate the "Veza" approach to public-facing science communication. Whether addressing nutritional density, cross-contamination or export compliance, the objective is to simplify complex data without losing scientific integrity.

Illustration of a zucchini plant with green leaves, yellow flowers, a fruit fly and a yellow fruit fly trap container.

SA Future of Food Conference 2026. Live sketchnotes.

Drawn live during two sessions at the SA Future of Food Conference, hosted by Food For Mzansi in Centurion. Each page captures the key ideas of a talk as it happened, ready to share on social media platforms the same day.

Sketchnotes can also go onto conference bags and other event items. With the programme and speaker details sent to me beforehand, illustrated bags can be designed and printed in time for the event.

Visual identity for the fresh produce export sector.

A recurring weekly content series developed for Imifino Exports to differentiate their product range in a competitive global market. This project demonstrates the power of a consistent "Brand Language" by integrating hand-drawn botanical sketches with product photography.

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