Zach was born in Salt Lake City and grew up in rural Missouri, where he developed a passion for art and illustration. While visiting southern Utah in his youth, he was inspired by the incredible beauty and the diverse landscapes across the region of the Grand Staircase. Eventually, he moved back to Utah and received a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Illustration from Utah Valley University. While studying, he worked as an assistant student curator in the UVU Herbarium, which introduced him to the world of botany and changed his trajectory to pursue botanical illustration. Since then, he has done field work across Utah and the Southwest, including the Colorado Plateau, Mojave Desert, and Wasatch Mountains. Zach’s scientific illustrations have been published in various field guides and research journals, and he hopes to continue using his art to promote science. In his free time, Zach enjoys cycling and is often exploring the landscapes of the west and photographing native flora and fauna.