Taxidermy and wildlife art

Artist based in leicester, uk

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Welcome to my website!
My name is Matt, and I'm a taxidermist and wildlife artist based in the UK. My passion for nature finds its expression in taxidermy—a craft where art and science beautifully intertwine.PLEASE NOTE: I am not currently offering client commissions for taxidermy, but if you'd like to see what I have for sale, please check out my Etsy Shop!Thanks for your interest!

I am a registered member of the UK Guild of Taxidermists

About

Hello, I'm Matt—a wildlife artist in my late thirties, currently based in Leicester, England.I've been obsessed with animals for as long as I can remember—first with a sketchbook, then with a scalpel. What began as endless drawings and studies of foxes, rabbits, and birds gradually evolved into a full-blown passion for taxidermy and animal art. Today, I work across multiple mediums, including taxidermy, painting, needle felting, and art dolls, combining my love for nature, anatomy, science, and storytelling every day.I always knew I wanted to work with animals—I just didn’t expect it would be with dead ones! For years, I aspired to become a veterinarian or vet nurse, but due to chronic illnesses, I had to let go of that dream. It was devastating, but I redirected my passion into other avenues, especially taxidermy. I often joke that I’m an “animal mortician.” Taxidermy suits me perfectly: it’s a multidisciplinary art that blends anatomy, sculpture, chemistry, painting, and design. It’s also deeply personal. There’s a quiet intimacy in studying the deceased, sketching diagrams, taking measurements, and slowly sewing everything back together. It forces me to slow down and be present. It quiets my ADHD brain—and soothes it.As a disabled artist, I work at a different pace than some of my peers. Every mount I create, every painting I finish, is the result of hours upon hours of effort, care, and above all, love. Being transgender also means I often feel like an outsider in the global taxidermy community, but that’s driven me to carve out my own niche in this fascinating and competitive world.My aim is for my work to serve as a tribute to animals and the natural world. I love what I do—it allows me to find beauty in things most people overlook: the intricate patterns on a bird’s feather, the iridescence of a beetle’s carapace, the rich autumn hues in a fox’s fur. Even the deceased animals on my workbench possess a silent, honest beauty.I hope my passion for animals shines through in my work. Thank you for reading my bio. If you'd like to see more photos, works in progress, and behind-the-scenes posts, I’m active on Instagram at mmartintaxidermy.Thanks so much for stopping by!

Contact

You can contact me for any reason via email, or fill out the form below:

Here is a small gallery of some of my finished taxidermy work. If you'd like to see more, please check out my Instagram at mmartintaxidermy or my Facebook at Matt Martin Taxidermy, which also includes work-in-progress images.I am currently focusing on small mammals and small/medium game heads. I hope to add birds to my portfolio this year.I am not currently taking client work, but please check back in May 2025 if you are interested in commissioning me!Please note My Instagram contains photographs of the taxidermy process, which includes raw, dead animals, and images may contain blood. Viewer discretion is advised. Content warnings will be posted when necessary.

Taxidermy Gallery

Here is a small gallery of some of my finished taxidermy work. If you'd like to see more, please check out my Instagram at mmartintaxidermy or my Facebook at Matt Martin Taxidermy, which also includes work-in-progress images.I am currently focusing on small mammals and small/medium game heads. I hope to add birds to my portfolio this year.I am not currently taking client work, but please check back in May 2025 if you are interested in commissioning me!Please note My Instagram contains photographs of the taxidermy process, which includes raw, dead animals, and images may contain blood. Viewer discretion is advised. Content warnings will be posted when necessary.Click to enlarge images

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Needlefelt gallery

Needle felting is the art of sculpting loose wool roving into sculptures or designs with specially designed needles. The needles have notches which tangle and felt the wool, making it firm. Needlefelt can be done over an amarture, by creating 3D shapes, and can even be used to "paint" a picture on a 2D canvas. The possibilities are endless!This gallery features some of my needlefelt sculptures. If you're interested in a sculpture of your own, you can commission one!
My prices can be found here.Click to enlarge images

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artwork

I create art with a variety of mediums from traditional (watercolours, acrylics, gouache and coloured pencils) to digital (mainly Procreate on the iPad). My subjects are always animals; both realistic and fantastical.Click to enlarge images

Traditional art

Digital art

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prices for needlefelt commissions

Would you like your very own needlefelt sculpture?
Perhaps you'd like an animal you love, a pet, a character from a show or even your own original character? I can make it for you!

Commission Guidelines

☆ Commissioned needlefelt work is a 100% unique, hand-made artwork of your chosen subject.
☆ I will only felt animals (both real and imagined, including anthros/furries).
☆ For pets, please provide as many photo references as you can, from all angles of the animal.
☆ If you would like a particular pose, please provide references. Alternatively, you can opt for a fully posable sculpture.
☆ If you would like to incorporate your pets real whiskers, hair, collar, or other items, I will do that free of charge.Types of Felting
Flat felting is a technique where the animal is created with a "flat" fur coat. This will be made of blended, high-quality wool.
Fur rooting is a technique where the animal's fur is created by rooting individual clumps of fur into a base sculpture, resulting in a fluffy, more realistic look. Because this is very time-consuming, my prices reflect this.

This jackalope head mount has been created with the fur rooting technique.

This small rabbit was made with the flat felting technique, with added pastel highlights.

Rough Price Guide - By Size

All prices are approximate, and for a simple/standard animal with 2-5 colours.
For more complicated designs, additional appendages (such as wings), clothing, open mouths etc, there will be additional charges. For a quote, please contact me

Species Specific Price Guide - Mammals

These prices are for life-size mammals with a closed mouth. For an open mouth, please add approximately 20% to the final total.For life-size animals not listed here, please enquire, or find the closest animal to yours in size as an estimate.
I do not currently offer life-size cats, foxes, and badgers, but I aim to one day.

Species Specific Price Guide - Birds and Others

These prices are for life-size birds with wings folded. For wings out, please add 50% to the final total.For life-size birds not listed here, please enquire, or find the closest bird to yours in size as an estimate.

Others

Please enquire for any of these species, or any other species you do not see on my lists.

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Taxidermy price guide

Mammals

☆ These prices are for a freestanding mount (unless specified). A simple wooden base is +10% of the total. A wooden base with a simple habitat (dirt, rocks, leaves) is +20% of the total.

Birds

☆ These prices are for a full body mount on a simple base.
Open wings are +20% extra.
Detailed groundwork is +40% extra.
Please enquire for a quote.

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