Shannon Beaumont is an Illustrator who specializes in drawing and painting animals. She teaches anatomy and animal drawing classes at CGMA and several art academies and colleges. Her work has been used by zoos and conservation agencies across the world, as well as for video games and commercial art. Shannon works primarily in traditional media and Photoshop. She describes art as a way to communicate things she is passionate about in a way that is expressive but not pushy or aggressive. She prefers traditional media such as watercolor, because it teaches her about patience and impermanence. Nature has always been a key focus of Shannon's art. It combines, she says, every adjective you can think of and keeps her humble. Ultimately, she sees her goal for her art is conservation through education.

Here are Shannon’s superb contributions to In Danger:

“I still remember the monarch migration from when I was a little girl in central Missouri. When a small animal like a butterfly affects you like that as a child, it is a humble reminder that we as a species still belong to the cycle that encompasses all living things. As I aged, I always wondered why the butterfly migration numbers depleted then stopped. The combination of pesticides, farming and the destruction of their habitat is responsible. The re-introduction and protection of Milkweed is also vital to ensure the Monarchs have a place to breed and sustain their numbers.” - Shannon Beaumont

“Despite being surrounded by mostly negative mystery, superstition and folklore, bats are truly magnificent creatures. Unfortunately, they are under pressure everywhere, regardless of species. The Mexican long-nose is particularly important because they pollinate several important trees, cactuses and plants. Amongst them, the Agave, and perhaps even more importantly, the cactus that is used to produce Tequila. So, if you like a margarita, you do not want this bat to disappear!” - Shannon Beaumont

“Pronghorns are gorgeous, fast and are the only surviving member of the Antilocapridae. Horns that shed? Yes! What’s not to like? Especially the fact that they serve as reminders of the ancient species that used to roam the plains and are so different from the other, more modern artiodactyls. Unfortunately, like so many species in this book, their survival depends on their environment.” - Shannon Beaumont

“I can’t resist foxes. These ones are tiny and, well, swift on their feet (hence their name). But unlike many species of foxes, they are very dependent on their environment. They are less suspicious by nature and thus more susceptible to poisoning, traffic and traps than other fox species. While there are breeding programs to try and sustain and re-introduce their numbers, because they primarily live in burrows, protecting their habitat remains vital to their survival as a species.“ - Shannon Beaumont

Learn more about Shannon

The “In Danger” Book

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