Hi! This is a collection of websites where you can find free-to-access images and other resources to use as reference and inspiration in all kinds of artwork. My aim is to collect a wide range of resources that do not contain Gen AI, and that provide context and credit for the references within, so that you can use them with care, respect, and knowledge.
I'd love if you want to suggest a resource for the list! Contact me on my socials!
Museums and Galleries etc
Great for artworks, historical and cultural artefacts. Many museums have online archives which are easily searchable and even allow you to download high res images from their archives for use under creative commons!
Costume
Arms and Armour
Nature
iNaturalist - Search by species name or location for thousands of photos of almost any organism submitted by real people. Warning: you may see images of dead animals.
Wildlife Photographer of the Year - archive of prizewinning nature photography.