ARTIST STATEMENT - WILD

Wild is a series of narrative photographic portraits that honour animals by telling their unique stories. The astonishing, yet fragile biodiversity of the Earth produces wildlife with the individual traits of extremely long necks, brilliant colours, sharp horns, and other adaptations that allow them to chart their own path in this world.

I captured these images following the end my husband’s chemotherapy treatment. As we travelled together throughout Africa and other places across the world to seek out the most incredible wildlife to photograph – creatures that have persevered through climate change and difficult conditions – I realized the resilience of all species, including our own.

This journey, and these photographs, are about discovering the interspecies bonds between humans and the rest of the animal kingdom. Humans and animals have long enjoyed a symbiotic bond; humans provide care and affection, and animals give companionship and calm.

By digitally compositing my original photographs, the beauty of each animal is amplified. The images have pared down and idealized backgrounds, allowing the animals and their specialized traits to shine in an environment unmarred by development and ecological change. The images are wholly photographic, bearing the profound connection of witnessing these animals up close. This a connection that I can only describe through images, one that is beyond language.

Each species has its own individuality and special adaptations that allow them both to survive and contribute to their ecosystem. Like my own husband’s triumphant victory over adversity, these animals too overcome increasingly challenging conditions. By highlighting each animal, Wild is a call for all humans to join together to protect these incredible creatures.

* There is no use of computer generation, stock photos or illustration.Instead, each artwork is the result of countless hours, reflecting, finding solutions, experiencing frustrations but above all bringing a deep sense of fulfilment and joy.