Our STory

Making With Biology was founded in 2024 with the simple purpose of making design for—and about—the life sciences more engaging. Since then we’ve shipped hundreds of biology-inspired items around the world, from here in the UK to customers as far afield as Australia. We’ve run several successful crowdfunding campaigns to help bring new products to life, and have now started working with companies to make their promotional materials more sustainable—and engaging!

The vision behind the Making With Biology is put centre stage by its founder, Kathryn Garner. Kathryn discovered a fascination with biological cells in her first year studying painting at Falmouth College of Arts, which led surprisingly to a 20-year career in science! From a role as a Cryobank Scientist freezing sperm at an infertility clinic in London, through to a PhD in molecular cell biology at UCL, eventually leading an R&D team in the biotech industry making laboratory kidney models for drug discovery.

Read more about Kathryn’s journey in her SciArt profile on the Node community site, hosted by the Company of Biologists.

Below are a taste of those original art school Cell Paintings!

'Pink Cell Drawing' (1999) Watercolour, oil pastel, pencil & felt-tip pen on paper.

'Pink Cell Drawing' (1999) Watercolour, oil pastel, pencil & felt-tip pen on paper.

'Embryology II' (2000) Oil, enamel and paper collage (an eye) on canvas.

'Embryology II' (2000) Oil, enamel and paper collage (an eye) on canvas.

'Orange Cell Drawing' (1999) Ink and oil pastel on paper.

'Orange Cell Drawing' (1999) Ink and oil pastel on paper.

'Purple Cell Drawing' (1999) Ink and emulsion paint on paper.

'Purple Cell Drawing' (1999) Ink and emulsion paint on paper.

'Blue Cell Drawing' (2000) Ink, enamel, oil pastel on paper.

'Blue Cell Drawing' (2000) Ink, enamel, oil pastel on paper.

'Bone Structure' (2000) Enamel and emulsion paint on paper.

'Bone Structure' (2000) Enamel and emulsion paint on paper.

'Black Angry Cells' (2000) Ink and wax crayon on paper.

'Black Angry Cells' (2000) Ink and wax crayon on paper.

'Left Ventricle' (2000) Enamel and emulsion paint on paper.

'Left Ventricle' (2000) Enamel and emulsion paint on paper.

'Small Brown Cell Drawing' (2000) Felt-tip pen, watercolour and ink on paper.

'Small Brown Cell Drawing' (2000) Felt-tip pen, watercolour and ink on paper.

'Embryology I' (2000) Oil on canvas.

'Embryology I' (2000) Oil on canvas.

'Purple Cell Drawing' now hangs in a seminar room in the Learning and Research Building at Southmead Hospital, Bristol.

'Purple Cell Drawing' now hangs in a seminar room in the Learning and Research Building at Southmead Hospital, Bristol.

'Purple Cell Drawing', 'Pink Cell Drawing', and 'Compartmentalisation' were exhibited at Bristol Bright Night (2015), a science public engagement event at We The Curious, Bristol, UK.

'Purple Cell Drawing', 'Pink Cell Drawing', and 'Compartmentalisation' were exhibited at Bristol Bright Night (2015), a science public engagement event at We The Curious, Bristol, UK.

'Purple Cell Drawing', 'Pink Cell Drawing', and 'Compartmentalisation' were exhibited at Bristol Bright Night (2015), a science public engagement event at We The Curious, Bristol, UK.

'Purple Cell Drawing', 'Pink Cell Drawing', and 'Compartmentalisation' were exhibited at Bristol Bright Night (2015), a science public engagement event at We The Curious, Bristol, UK.

'Pink Cell Drawing' now lives on Level 7 of the Bristol Royal Infirmary, Bristol, UK.

'Pink Cell Drawing' now lives on Level 7 of the Bristol Royal Infirmary, Bristol, UK.