Mark Witton
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markwitton.bsky.social
Mark Witton
@markwitton.bsky.social
Palaeoartist, palaeontologist, author, documentary consultant and creature designer. Affiliated with the University of Portsmouth, UK; views and opinions are my own.

More about me at markwitton.co.uk.
Support my work at www.patreon.com/markwitton
No, computer, I'm not trying to turn on the "sticky keys" function. Something else is going on.
February 9, 2026 at 4:51 PM
And so begins the countdown to the frightnerman, doomsage, horrormeister. Thanks to @gizz47.bsky.social for this evening of terror, fear and blood. Blood? Blood.

Crimson, copper-smelling blood.

His blood. Blood. Blood. Blood.

And bits of sick.
February 6, 2026 at 7:22 PM
Finally, another fuzzy ornithischian: www.nature.com/articles/s41.... This is a big deal for dinosaur #paleoart, confirming some of what we've been doing for a while now, but also showing that we've probably underestimated how weird the integuments of these animals could be.
Cellular-level preservation of cutaneous spikes in an Early Cretaceous iguanodontian dinosaur - Nature Ecology & Evolution
A juvenile iguanodontian from the Lower Cretaceous of China preserves both spikes and scales in its skin that are different from integumentary structures in either non-avian dinosaurs or extant squama...
www.nature.com
February 6, 2026 at 2:43 PM
Finally, I can break silence! I did a lot of creature design work for this show (collaborating, of course, with the production team) and think the animals are looking pretty good here! This was a lot of fun to work on - will be watching on Mar. 6!

www.youtube.com/watch?v=y4ZB...
The Dinosaurs | Official Trailer | Netflix
YouTube video by Netflix
www.youtube.com
February 5, 2026 at 3:39 PM
Reposted by Mark Witton
#WyrdWednesday The idea that ancient discoveries of Protoceratops fossils inspired tales of griffins has become popular, but in 2024 @markwitton.bsky.social and I wrote a paper examining it in detail and concluded it probably wasn't true

Read all about it here:
journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10....
February 4, 2026 at 11:58 AM
More new #paleoart and discussion at #Patreon: the colour schemes of Sinornithosaurus and Microraptor. What do we know, and what do their colours tell us? www.patreon.com/posts/sinorn...

#sciart #dinosaurs #paleontology #fossils
January 31, 2026 at 4:21 PM
New #paleoart at #Patreon for #FossilFriday: Caudipteryx encounters a frozen lake, is unsure, prob. makes wee bokking noises as its feet slide apart hilariously.

Lots of discussion about the colour data of this animal in my Patreon post. www.patreon.com/posts/149439...
#sciart #fossil #dinosaurs
January 30, 2026 at 12:53 PM
Finally, North America gets some spinosaurs!

OK, OK: North America finally gets _Spinosaur Tales_, by @davehone.bsky.social and me, from today. It's been out in the UK since Nov. and reviews have been v. positive. All your usual book vendors will stock it.
Info: www.bloomsbury.com/uk/spinosaur...
January 27, 2026 at 8:18 PM
Reposted by Mark Witton
Spinosaur Tales with @markwitton.bsky.social is out now in North America. It's been getting top reviews already from readers, so if you like your giant, weird, controversial, carnivorous #dinosaurs and spectacular palaeoart, then check it out!
January 27, 2026 at 8:01 PM
Another John Martin-style #paleoart piece painted for fun. This riffs on 1830s views of the British Wealden, where giant dinosaurs (Iguanodon and Megalosaurus here) engaged in violent combat in grand natural amphitheatres. Pterosaurs and other animals watch on. ARE YOU NOT ENTERTAINED? #sciart
January 26, 2026 at 3:04 PM
It's #BurnsNight, so here's some #paleoart of one of Triassic Scotland's most famous inhabitants: Scleromochlus taylori. Exactly what Scleromochlus represents is still debated. Most think it's an early pterosauromorph, but not all. Like this image? Get a print @ www.markwitton.co.uk/product-page...
January 25, 2026 at 9:47 PM
Want some #paleoart content for your ears this #FossilFriday? I've been interviewed about reconstructing extinct animals by the nice folks at the Instant Genius podcast. Check it out here: open.spotify.com/episode/4haO...

#dinosaurs #paleontology #sciart #art #fossil
How paleoartists bring dinosaurs to life
open.spotify.com
January 23, 2026 at 1:25 PM
For #FossilFriday: After many, many years of absence, I've finally restored a working print store to my website markwitton.co.uk. There are over 120 #paleoart prints to choose from, and I'll periodically add new pieces over time (or older pieces at request, but serious inquiries only, please!).
January 23, 2026 at 12:28 PM
The real secret of how work gets done around here: the pets guide our fingers when using computers. The truth, finally, is out. With @gizz47.bsky.social
January 21, 2026 at 3:17 PM
I've been tinkering with my website today, uploading the first new images in many, many years and making some nips and tucks here and there. There's now tons more #paleoart to see, including lots of new stuff you might have missed. Check it out at www.markwitton.co.uk
Home | MarkWitton.co.uk
Palaeontological artist, consultant and author The online home of Dr. Mark P. Witton, including details of my books, scientific articles and a gallery of my palaeoart.
www.markwitton.co.uk
January 20, 2026 at 5:25 PM
Just took delivery of a signed Peter Scott snow geese print from 1939. It joins van Grouw and Conway to make our hallway a small natural history art gallery. Starting to wish we had more walls. With @gizz47.bsky.social.
January 16, 2026 at 4:06 PM
SPPOOOSSSHHH... PHHHFFFFFFF... SSSSSSHHHHHHHH...

To paraphrase Bob Ross, you have to make the noises when looking at #paleoart, otherwise it doesn't work.

2018 illustration of giant Triassic ichthyosaurs Shonisaurus, surfacing in waters that once covered Nevada. #art #fossil #paleontology #sciart
January 16, 2026 at 1:25 PM
Reposted by Mark Witton
"Rethinking the strangest dinosaurs ever found"
With @markwitton.bsky.social
It's about Spinosaurus and its relatives (25min10s)
www.kpcw.org/podcast/cool...
Rethinking the strangest dinosaurs ever found
Spinosaurus is one of the most famous and least understood dinosaurs of all time. New research and reconstructions reveal how fragmentary fossils, lost specimens and evolving science have shaped what ...
www.kpcw.org
January 15, 2026 at 9:24 PM
Spending the week on commissions for museums and realised that - now we're in 2026 - I've been creating #paleoart for other scientists and researchers for 20 years (actual anniversary is July). Here's my first "professional" gig: thalassodromid ontogeny for Dave Martill and @tetzoo.bsky.social.
January 14, 2026 at 9:37 PM
All plesiosaurs today for #FossilFriday, in tribute to our departed friend Richard Forrest.
January 9, 2026 at 11:32 AM
Just learned that Richard Forrest, one of the pillars of British vert palaeo, has passed away unexpectedly. Richard was such a friendly, welcoming person, an expert on British marine reptiles, and the unofficial custodian of SVPCA. We spent many hours chatting in various pubs. He will be missed.
January 9, 2026 at 11:19 AM
Book authors get their own breed of spam email. But some spammers are more competent than others.
January 6, 2026 at 3:07 PM
First new #paleoart piece finished for 2026: a super modern, 100% accurate take on Mosasaurus and a plesiosaur.

In unrelated news, I had the spirit of the early 19th-century palaeoartist John Martin exorcised from my house over the weekend.

#paleontology #fossil #sciart #retropaleoart #art
January 6, 2026 at 9:48 AM
Current Caudipteryx #paleoart WIP, coinciding with how everyone in Britain felt when they left the house this morning.

#sciart #fossil #art #paleontology #ohmygodthere'saninchofsnowwe'reallgoingtodie
January 5, 2026 at 6:03 PM