I was also fortunate enough to be born and raised on the most incredible continent of all, Africa. I grew up in South Africa and studied Zoology and Conservation Biology at the University of Cape Town.
As for many people, nature is a constant source of inspiration and sanity for me. It is a troubling time in human history as we continue to witness the industrial scale assault on the natural world, despite knowing better. I hope that by continuing to remind people of the beauty and majesty of the natural world, we can start to turn the tide of destruction to a tsunami of care and restoration.
I now live in Cairns in far north Queensland, Australia, nestled between the Wet Tropics World Heritage rainforests and the Great Barrier Reef.
My art is a form of meditation for me that usually happens in the dead of night when all is quiet, and I can disappear into the detail of a fold in an ear or the texture of a rock. I am a largely a self-taught artist and I am inspired by the great wildlife artists of our time, including Ray Harris Ching, Robert Bateman, and William (Bill) Cooper, who I was extremely fortunate to be able to call a friend. Art is an ongoing learning experience, and it forces you to know your subjects in great detail, which is part of the joy of wildlife art.
I've worked in most mediums and enjoy them all, in particular oils for their depth and flexibility and pencils for their naked simplicity.
I try to combine the discipline of a scientist with the creativity of an artist whilst trying to convey the essence and majesty of my subjects.