KOTARA author and illustrator Sami Bayly says a handwritten letter from her hero, English broadcaster and natural historian David Attenborough, is likely to become a family heirloom.
Ms Bayly, 23, checked her letterbox after an otherwise ordinary Wednesday to find Mr Attenborough had written to her, thanking her for sending him a copy of her book, The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Ugly Animals.
She had the letter professionally framed on Friday.
"I could not believe it, I was just in shock," she said.
"For someone that well known and respected and such a busy man to put the time and effort into looking at the book, let alone reply to me, is amazing.
"I'm sure he knows how much effect he has.
"I will remember this for the rest of my life and pass it on to future family and children. It's so special, I don't have words for it."
Ms Bayly had sent Mr Attenborough a copy of the book with a note explaining "how much I appreciate him as a conservationist and person" and a drawing of a black snub-nosed monkey.
Mr Attenborough replied, addressing his letter dated January 12 to Samantha - Sami's full name - and thanking her for the book.
"I have to say that in truth I don't think any animal is ugly - at least in the eyes of its mate," he wrote, underlining the word any.
"But I wish you every success with the book."
Ms Bayly said she had grown up watching Mr Attenborough's documentaries and wanting to travel to London's Natural History Museum.
"I wanted to be him," she said. "I've always had a special attachment to him and how much he cares for animals and how much he raises awareness among people who may otherwise not care."
Ms Bayly completed the University of Newcastle's bachelor of natural history illustration in 2017.
She entered her portrait of an ibis into and was the co-winner of the Australian Museum's inaugural Australian Scientific Illustration Scholarship.
"I like painting animals that are a bit more unusual and the shock value of drawing something ugly and encouraging people to see it in a new light," she said.
"It can be so easy for humans to judge an animal on on whether we find it aesthetically pleasing or not.
"But in reality all that matters is that they find one another attractive."
Ms Bayly said Hachette Australia asked if she would be interested in producing a book.
She researched and illustrated 30 animals in her 2018 honours year and the remaining 30 before her March 2019 deadline.
The book was released in September and will be published in the United Kingdom and the United States.
She is currently working on her second book, which she said will also touch on valuing animals regardless of their appearance.
