Alexandra Baker grew up fascinated by both science and drawing, and like so many other medical illustrators when she first heard about the field it was a eureka moment for her. Based in Asheville, North Carolina, today she’s a leading medical illustrator, working for an array of book publishers and magazines, illuminating some the latest discoveries in medical science.
Texture and atmosphere are important elements in her work. She recalls the day when her father – who worked with electron microscopes – first showed her scans of the surface of a leaf and the proboscis of a butterfly. Today she uses various kinds of nature photography as sources of inspiration. Underwater images help her create the right mood when depicting the human body from the inside, and pictures taken in caves can help with bodily cavities. The branches of trees are reminiscent of arteries, and nature’s textures and patterns provide endless fascination for an artist who is dedicated to getting the details right.
She’s also inspired by the artists Stephen Gilbert and Frank Armitage, both of whom are medical illustrators. Outside of her art, she loves to run and took up training five years back. Since then she’s completed seven marathons and more than 20 half-marathons. A keen reader, she says her house is like a secondhand bookshop.
Client List
Contemporary OB/GYN
JADPRO
Elsevier Health
John Wiley & Sons, Inc
Thieme Medical Publishers
Wolters Kluwer Health
Science Branding Communications
Evolution Medical Communications