A few months ago, I was sketching a baby orphan orangutan at a wildlife conservation project in Borneo and had pause to think that I could not have been happier that at that precise moment. Here I was, miles away from my life in London as a...
A few months ago, I was sketching a baby orphan orangutan at a wildlife conservation project in Borneo and had pause to think that I could not have been happier that at that precise moment. Here I was, miles away from my life in London as a freelance artist and illustrator, laughing at the clumsy attempts of this little guy to steal my sketchpad. Despite his traumatic beginnings, which left him with a body length burn scar on his back, he climbed over me without any fear, only a strong determination to eat the buttons off my shirt. In describing my life so far, it is not the big landmarks that define me. Rather it is these little moments, these details that make sense of it all.
Seventeen years ago, I graduated from TASIS England and set off for art school with some general idea that I wanted to be creative, dramatic, and wear a lot of black. Along the way, my love for the natural world and its most vulnerable inhabitants became my focus. I don't know exactly when it began, my love of drawing and of animals has been there since the beginning, but I know I have my parents to thank - we were always a house overrun with rescue animals and always traveling to see the beauty of far-flung places.
Looking back, I also credit TASIS England for fostering my creative interest and giving me the freedom to experiment and find my way. We had unlimited access to the art studio, and my teachers were always there to advise and encourage. Behind the class arcade doors, Ms. Goss inspired me to think visually and with integrity. Not only did I learn the foundations of art, but the school provided a focus of study that served me well during the completion of my undergraduate fine arts degree at City & Guilds of London Art School, my Master's degree at The Royal College of Art, and my current part-time studies toward a zoology course. I am also indebted to TASIS England for giving me a handful of best friends, whom I see as often as possible. Their kindness and friendship have given me a richer life that I will always be thankful for.
Being an artist allows you to look at the world a little differently. My view has always been one of deep reverence in a kind of 'we're not worthy' way. I hope to encourage others to notice the beauty that surrounds us. My work is not photographic; rather it is an impression, a shape, a glance. You need to be fast when the monkeys are flying over your head, and I try to catch the hidden things that you can only experience by being there in person. My expeditions to study threatened species have taken me across five continents, to some remote wilderness areas such as the Amazon basin, the Malaysian jungles of the Sabah Province of Borneo, and the Cameroon Nigerian rainforest cooridor.
Wildlife artists have long been known for their links with conservation, and I am no different. You cannot spend hours in the company of wild animals, observing their behavior, drawing their features, and not be moved by their sheer beauty and their rightful place in the world. Through my deep desire to visually prtray the world's wildlife, my hear and eyes have been opened to its fragile co-existence with mankind. I hope to pay tribute to these animals in their natural habitat - to show others the beauty that exists and how important it is to preserve it. I would like to hope that theses pictures are not the only way the future generations will get to see and appreciate the diverse species with which we share the planet.
Conservation is becoming a hot topic these days as more and more people are noticing our impact on the world. Despite this increase in interest, there are still many species whose population has dropped so low in the wild that their extinction is inevitable without the aid of captive breeding programs. We are losing many species each day, mostly through loss of habitat as we encroach further and further into wild spaces. We have wiped out more than half of Africa's elephants and three sub-species of tiger have disappeared forever. Of the most threatened and magnificent species, the gorilla, there are approximately 200 Cross River gorillas and 400 mountain gorillas left in the wild. The approaching extinction of many of our closest living relatives - monkeys, apes, and prosimians - and the destruction and loss of their habitats, highlight the need to offset the effects of the current decline in natural resources. Conservation should be a concern for everyone, and we can't be sentimental about it.
Through my work, I intend to do as much as I am able to help. I regularly donate artwork to several conservation groups that I am involved with, to help raise funds through art auctions. I have also helped design merchandise, lay out brochures, and generally given my time. We can all make a difference. by giving your time, even in the smallest way, you are helping to preserve a world that is rich with species that will sustain both humans and other animals for future generations.
This article first appeared in the TASIS England Today magazine, Fall 2006 issue.