Taxidermy Co. is the brainchild of Suffolk based taxidermist, illustrator and designer, Krysten Newby. The brand was born when her two passions of taxidermy and graphic design collided in her final major project at University Campus Suffolk, Bury St. Edmunds.
Will you taxidermy my pet?
Due to the HUGE responsibility and pressure that comes with preserving pets (cats & dogs in particular), this is a service I do not currently offer.
No taxidermist no matter how skilled, will be able to bring back the kind soul or ‘spark’ that your beloved pet had through this unique art form. It will simply be a representation.
However, it’s a service that I may offer in the future once I have had some experience with domestic animals that nobody has had an emotional connection with – I currently have a little farm cat in the freezer that I plan on working with soon.
It is a big decision that should NOT be rushed – You can store your beloved pet in the freezer for many years until you are 100% certain.
In the past, I have painted many people’s pets (I am also a fine artist) – this is an alternative you could consider.
Do you kill these animals?
Absolutely not! None of the taxidermy animals displayed are killed purposefully for taxidermy – I do not tolerate people killing animals for profit, sport or pleasure.
The animals I work with are killed humanely for reptile and zoo animal consumption.
Others are sourced from local roadkill, the result of a natural death, or the result of ethical, legal pest control.
I want to be the one to change people’s perception of taxidermists – I’m actively trying to support wildlife conservation charities by donating 10% of the sales made from my art and taxidermy to them.
How did you get in to taxidermy?
With many trips to the Natural History Museum as a child, I’ve had a fascination with taxidermy and other oddities for a long time.
As an illustrator also, the anatomy of animals has always been a big inspiration to my work, I felt that taxidermy was another area of art I could passionately delve into.
Were did you learn?
I took a course hosted by Amanda Sutton (a.k.a ‘Amanda’s Autopsies’) at Barts Pathology museum, London.
Doesn’t it smell?
It doesn’t smell – apart from animals from the mustelid family which have pongy scent glands!
The reason it doesn’t generally smell is that I can only work with fresh specimens – it smells no more than a slab of fresh meat, or your uncooked roast chicken before it’s put in the oven.
After skinning and prepping the animal, I then treat the skin and use tried & tested traditional preservation methods, which deter any bugs and eliminates smell.
Finally, I mount the treated skins on to forms made of woodwool, or in some cases, ready made foam forms.
Is it legal?
I am very aware of rules and regulations issued by DEFRA and I fully comply with various wildlife laws.
I hold the required licenses for the possession of some protected species, such as birds of prey.
For domestic species such as rabbits, rats & mice etc., no license is required.
How can I ship my taxidermy mount in to the U.S or Australia?
I get asked this question very often. In most cases, it’s quite a complex process with so many various wildlife export/import laws set in place.
Please see this page for detailed information: Shipping Taxidermy Abroad
I just found a dead animal, do you want it?
Yes please!
Considering it is fresh and in good condition, make sure it is well wrapped up in clingfilm (if possible) or a bag to be put in the freezer as soon as possible until I am able to obtain the specimen.