Archibald Thorburn (Scottish, 1860–1935) was an artist known primarily for his watercolor illustrations of birds. From a very early age, Thorburn was intrigued by all forms of wildlife, and created a number of drawings and sketches of twigs, leaves, and flowers that he observed in the gardens surrounding his house. He first studied in Dalkeith and in Edinburgh, and later attended St John’s Wood School of Art in London.

In 1887, he was commissioned to produce illustrations for the publication Coloured Figures of the Birds of the British Isles, which earned him widespread recognition. He went on to illustrate a number of sporting and natural history books. In addition, Thorburn collaborated with other prominent bird illustrators, including George Edward Lodge and John Guille Millais.

Over the course of his career, his works were regularly exhibited at the Royal Academy. He also designed the first Christmas card for the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds in 1899, where he served as vice president. By the 1890s, however, he became disillusioned with the Academy, exhibiting instead at A. Baird Carter.

At the time of his death, Thorburn was considered the greatest natural history painter in Britain.