Blog

2021: Year in Review

Mair Perkins 2021 projects collage

Happy 2022! Here is a summary of what Mair Perkins Ltd Animation and Illustration produced in 2021.

It’s been a busy but fulfilling year. A huge thanks to all our clients and collaborators.

We are delighted to have worked primarily on science communication, mental health and cause based projects this year.

The climate and ecological crisis, the COVID-19 pandemic, rising social inequalities and increasing polarisation and disinformation online have highlighted how vital it is to communicate science and build bridges between the people involved in scientific research and different groups of the public.


We created six animations for Envision environmental scientists in 2021 to help communicate their PhD research work.

The potential for solar parks to become habitats for pollinators.
The potential for solar parks to become habitats for pollinators.
Impact Of Sea Level Rise on Atmospheric CO2 Concentrations
The impact of sea level rise on atmospheric CO2 concentrations during glacial-deglacial periods.
The behavioural responses of coral reef fish to environmental change.
The behavioural responses of coral reef fish to environmental change.
How ozone (O3) pollution impacts on wheat crop production.
How ozone (O3) pollution impacts on wheat crop production.
The environmental impacts of historic lead mining in Wales.
The environmental impacts of historic lead mining in Wales.
A conservation project that measures oxidative stress levels in red colobus monkeys in Zanzibar (to be published later in 2022).
A conservation project that measures oxidative stress levels in red colobus monkeys in Zanzibar (to be published later in 2022).

More science communication projects

Carbon Dynamics in a Human-Modified Tropical Forest Animation
Climate scientist Yhasmin Mendes asked us to produce this animation explaining how scientists can closely monitor environmental changes on different aspects of forests such as fires, rainfall, temperature, and the amount of carbon in the atmosphere.
Ensembles Of Ecosystem Service Models
Environmental scientists from Bangor University hired us to create an animated video to communicate the key findings of their research into ensembles ecosystem service models.
Climate Change, Flooding And Erosion – University Of Liverpool Research
Professor James Cooper of the Geography and Planning department at the University of Liverpool, hired us to create an animated video to explain their scientific research into climate change, storms, flooding and erosion in the UK.
EnergyREV: Addressing The Challenges Of Smart Local Energy Systems
We worked with the researchers at EnergyREV to communicate how their organisation is helping the uptake of smart local energy systems in the UK. These are primarily renewable energy sources such as solar panels and wind turbines that are combined with smart technology to store and distribute the energy efficiently.
FutureOAK Animation
The FUTURE OAK research team hired me to produce an animation about the importance of oak trees and forests, the threats they face and how the FUTURE OAK project is working to tackle acute oak decline using pioneering microbiome research.
Global Food Security Report: Is The UK Ready For Plant-Based Diets?
Researchers for the Global Food Security Programme commissioned an animated video to summarise their report on the rise of plant-based diets in the UK.
Animation For Mini Documentary “Lighting It Up: The Physics Of Imaging Space”
At the end of 2021 we worked with Welsh Science Presenter/Filmmaker, Huw James on this animation about light, radiation, the electromagnetic spectrum and cameras for the first part of an outreach and public engagement programme offered by the School of Physical Sciences at the The Open University.
Raman Nanotheranostics (RaNT) – Disease Diagnosis And Cancer Treatment
We also published an animation created in 2020 for the EPSRC RaNT Programme from the University of Exeter about their revolutionary all-in-one approach to disease diagnosis and cancer treatment, developing a new technology that wields the light enhancing powers of gold nanostructures.

Other animation and illustration projects

Derby Museum Ancient Egypt Illustrations
Derby Museums hired us to create a series of visual aids to help with educational sessions in the museum about Ancient Egypt. We provided them both as still illustrations and subtly animated videos. They are to accompany a story set in Ancient Egypt.
Promotional Videos For The Book “Running The Family Firm” By Dr. Laura Clancy
Two animated videos were created for the author and academic, Dr Laura Clancy, to communicate key ideas from her book, Running the Family Firm, about how media representations of the royal family as a family mask issues of power, wealth accumulation and (post)colonialism and Empire.
PACT: Police Autism Community Training
In 2020 Mair Perkins volunteered with Crews for a Cause on the PACT: Police Autism Community Training video. Mair designed, illustrated and rigged the animated Otter character.

We created more illustrations for The Anna Freud National Centre for Children and Families about sensitive mental health and family relationships topics.

Supporting young children and families through bereavement booklet
Supporting young children and families through bereavement booklet
Raising concerns about a child with parents and carers
Raising concerns about a child with parents and carers

We designed infographics for Transport Action Network and Transport for Quality of Life that showed how the UK Government’s road building plans will increase carbon emissions in the transport sector when they urgently need to be reduced.

OwlIT, who we share office space with, commissioned some social media graphics for their software development and consultancy business.


Personal Artwork


Climate Emergency Plan Progress Report: April 2021

In spring of 2020, Mair Perkins Ltd. declared a climate emergency along with other concerned business owners in Business Declares.

We shared a progress report on our climate action plan in April 2021. One of the biggest changes was switching to an ethical business bank account with Triodos who do not finance fossil fuels and deforestation like many big banks do.


Looking forward to 2022

We are currently working on an animation for researchers to explain sustainable smart cities to policy makers and planners and a co-produced animation with young people about their views on climate change. We also have a few other projects in the pipeline for 2022.

If you would to discuss a potential animation or illustration project, please feel free to get in touch. 

Photo of Mair Perkins