The natural world is the ultimate inspiration for me, the more I see the more I feel the urge to recreate its beauty. My fascination with wildlife has led me to work full time with wild and captive animals. With this privilege, the type of experience I have with animals is very different to the majority of people. I get hands on interactions and close observation, and as an artist, I create what I know. I draw the animals that occur frequently in my life at that particular time, the species I obsess over, a particular behaviour that strikes me. I try to recreate a glimpse of a moment I have observed and offer it as a window into a world not everyone gets a chance to see.
To me wildlife is not just a flash of movement from within a hedge, spotted with binoculars; it is much more a personal interaction. From foxes rummaging through your bin, gulls pooing on your car, rescuing a hedgehog from the side of the road or a mole from a drain, viewing endangered species within a zoo or on safari; we all interact with wildlife on a daily basis. Within my work I try to bring out a more personal connection with the viewer in my attempt to demonstrate to others that we are not separate onlookers, we are an important part of the natural world and the wildlife around us.
From a young age my interest in natural history collided with my deep need to draw and paint. Spurred on by books like ‘Born Free’ by Joy Adamson, I would paint and draw wildlife out of books and magazines, or sketch the birds and animals I encountered in the countryside around my home town of Yeovil.
After leaving school I went on to study Fine Art in college. Once I completed my course I decided to stay in college and study Animal Management, which is where my obsession with falconry and bird keeping really started. 10 years later, following my passion for birds has led me to working in zoos and a Wildlife Rescue charity. I am now a full time display falconer fitting in my desire to draw the animals and wildlife that have engulfed my life.
