© John Nicholson, illustration from Animal Architects, Allen & Unwin, 2003. Pencil on paper, courtesy of the artist.

John Nicholson trained as an architect – a useful background for his book on the materials that animals use to make and build their homes. John describes his fascination with shells, which he collected as a child:

‘What is it about shells that make them look like shells? Apart from their amazing shapes and their intricate coloured patterns, it is – above all – their smooth, shiny lustre that gives them their “shelly” quality.’