Orangutans share almost 97% of the same genetic material as humans.
They are sensational learners - the most intelligent primates. They have insight. They also watch & learn, and take time to figure out a problem.

“If you give a chimpanzee a screwdriver, he’ll break it;
if you give a gorilla a screwdriver, he’ll toss it over his shoulder; but
if you give an orangutan a screwdriver, he’ll open up his cage & walk away” - Michelle Desilets, Executive Director of The Orangutan Land Trust.

They are critically endangered. We know this, we have figured out the problem, we need to use their intelligence & do something about it.

I was going to call him Tommy but I feel joy when I look at him so have gone with that instead. His eyes are puppy dog eyes to me! 🐢 An exercise in upside down drawing.

Sounds a bit like a Farrow and Ball colour!! Drawing on the right side of the brain.

There is just something likeable about this cow,. Upside down drawing.

A good friend and avid fisherman explained to me the virtues of the hardworking Atlantic Salmon, the distances they swim, the lengths they go to to spawn and how very noble they are. To top it all off, the colours and patterns of a salmon really are truly gorgeous. This piece is a mostly pencil and watercolour pencils with a little bit of pen. Commission piece.

This was a commission from a different fisherman friend who thinks that the Mackerel is the greatest fish ever. He gave me an incredible photo to work from, a bucket with an abundance of mackerel. This is just one zoomed in section. The colours of these fish are really are quite something. This piece was created with Derwent Coloursoft pencils.

We have spent endless hours looking out for & watching the seal in Kinsale. In our house we call him Sammy the Seal. I’m sure he has lots of different names from lots of different families! But much loved by all! 

… sting like a bee

My mum loves giraffes. She also says my long neck is my best feature! This cracks me up as I didn’t notice it ‘til she pointed it out!

I drew this for Incognito 2020 - the art initiative where artists donate a postcard size piece of art. The twist with the exhibition is that the artist is only revealed AFTER the purchase. The proceeds of all sales go to the Jack & Jill Children’s Foundation, who do AMAZING work nursing very sick children across Ireland and providing invaluable support to their families.

Not a self portrait! As my husband suggests! 

This wonderfully curious looking bird with its mad eyes is an Emu - native of Australia.

I drew here when the wildfires were raging through Oz.