Art and ecology

Introducing my new art series, which brings together art and ecology. It’s a series that I am really excited about exploring and it feels like the natural progression for my artwork; I can’t wait to tell you more.

Ecology as a career

Not long after beginning my career as an ecologist, I discovered a particular passion for both urban ecology and designing/retrofitting projects to benefit biodiversity through habitat creation and enhancement.

There is something so special about discovering pockets of nature within the urban sprawl and working to connect those pockets across a cityscape; designing schemes to help wildlife inhabit, move within, move around, move through landscapes and sustain themselves.

Projects

Over the years I have worked on countless projects around England and Wales, and one or two overseas, from urban areas in the heart of cities, to coastal schemes and rural sites set deep within the countryside.

I’ve stood on the top of office buildings to design and monitor green roofs, surveyed spooky Victorian tunnels for bats, undertaken habitat surveys from a helicopter, paddled along rivers in a kayak searching for water vole, stood awestruck in ancient woodland and worked with one of the most prestigious film studios in the world.

I’ve had the opportunity to experience so much over the course of my career to date and remain just as passionate about connecting people and nature; creating a world where all can thrive.

New art series

Through my new art series, I aim to create drawings that explore the ideas and experience I have gained over the course of my ecology career by reimagining a variety of landscapes where both nature and people flourish.

First in the series

I have named my first drawing in the series, “Green city”, and it depicts an urban landscape overflowing with nature: tower blocks are planted with living roofs and balconies; a pedestrian bridge incorporates wildflower planting where pollinators thrive; species-rich meadow planting has been left to flower, providing habitat for a whole host of wildlife; a kingfisher bank is built into the river wall opposite, whilst bird boxes are incorporated into the bridge buttresses; ephemeral ponds are present within the floodplain; and trees provide a continuous vegetated line for species to forage and disperse in the rear of the piece. A passerby pauses on the bridge to enjoy the river and wildlife below, a couple stroll along one of the paths and a father and child explore the meadow. A green space for all.

I’ve really enjoyed reimagining this landscape and working on all of the different features. I can’t wait to see how the art and ecology series pans out.

Thanks as always for your continued support.

If you’d like to have a little slice of green city living in your own home, prints are now available from my shop along with the original drawing.