Some artists enjoy the buzz of a busy studio. Others, like Italian scientific illustrator Davide Bonadonna, can think of nothing worse.

‘I live as a hermit here in my studio,’ he says, ‘kicking everyone out and trying not to answer the phone! I work better when no one is around, so the office environment is definitely not for me.’ Renowned for his expertise in palaeontologic illustrations and reconstructions of prehistory, it is no surprise that Bonadonna’s studio is filled with books on the subject. The Samurai armour, however, is a little unexpected. ‘I inherited it from my father, a fanatic of oriental art and history,’ he explains. ‘In fact, there are features from my life all around the studio, such as a wooden tennis racquet and shoes from my sporting past and a massive collection of comic books from a lifelong love of the genre. It makes me comfortable to have it all close – but of course it’s a nightmare when it comes to cleaning!’

‘The cover was particularly challenging, as the creatures dominate the scene but with their skeletons mirrored below. Getting the visual balance right was incredibly tricky, so that everything is in harmony and the overall effect works. But I think the end result does justice to the incredible story that Steve tells,’ he says. ‘It’s been so exciting to take the scientific work I enjoy doing and apply it to something that gives me such a freedom of expression. Getting to create an environment that has never actually been seen is a real privilege.’

Illustrations: © Davide Bonadonna from The Rise and Fall of the Dinosaurs