About
Ever since I can remember I have been fascinated with animals and their differing forms and functions. Drawing animals has always been a means of relaxation whilst providing an essential creative outlet.
My subjects inevitably centre on wildlife, usually from photos I have taken either from working at the zoo or going exploring in nature. The natural world provides boundless opportunities for inspiration and I am constantly conjuring up how I could incorporate images I see in nature onto paper through the medium of pencil or watercolour, or more recently onto the screen in the form of digital artworks.
on a Koala burnt in the KI Bushfires
As a zoo and wildlife veterinarian I have found that I am frequently presented with opportunities to study the unique anatomy of my varied subjects in a way that few people have the opportunity to do; whether it is through closely watching their behaviours, monitoring closely how an antelope moves to assess a lameness, feeling the texture of a cheetahs coat whilst under anaesthetic or dissecting an animal during a post-mortem.
Having this hands on experience with a such a large variety of animals has helped me develop an intimate understanding of animal anatomy which in turn I hope helps me create realistic drawings of animals either in motion or at rest.
with an Anaesethetic dart
As a self-taught artist I have been lucky enough to be a finalist in the SA Museum’s Waterhouse Art Competition in 2006, 2013 and 2014 and now I am indebted to ZoosSA for providing me the opportunity to host a SALA event with the mural ‘Monarto’s Great Race’, a digitaly created image comprising all 42 species of animals currently housed at Monarto Safari Park running from slowest to fastest!