A Story of Love, Loss, and Connection

There’s something about elephants — their wisdom, their memory, their quiet strength — that has always spoken to my heart.

Rob and I shared a love for these beautiful creatures. Years ago, we dreamed of going on safari, but life had other plans. A crisis in our business meant we had to let that dream go. Later, when I returned to art in 2019, Rob became my biggest champion. He took me all over to find animals to photograph for reference, encouraging every brushstroke.

There aren’t many elephants in the UK, but we planned a trip to Colchester Zoo to feed them — a day just for us. Sadly, Rob died before we had the chance to go.

That following Christmas, my daughter and her family gave me the most thoughtful gift — a trip to Colchester, together, to feed the elephants. It was an emotional day. Beautiful, moving, and bittersweet. Being close to them felt like a quiet nod from Rob — as if he was there in spirit, standing beside me.

Since then, elephants have appeared in many of my paintings. From tiny oil studies to bold, large canvases, their presence has stayed with me. At my first exhibition, I sold a small elephant painting — a quiet success that felt so meaningful. But at another show, someone commented that they didn’t like “safari art.” I was still deep in grief, and those words stuck more than they should have.

For a long time, the elephants stayed home with me. They felt too personal to part with. But time, as it does, has softened the edges of grief. I’ve come to understand that my elephant paintings aren’t just art — they’re a tribute to love, to memory, and to everything Rob encouraged me to do.

Elephants remember. They honour the ones they’ve lost. They return, year after year, to where their family last stood. It’s no wonder I feel so connected to them.

Giving Back: Supporting Elephant Conservation

Now, I feel ready to share them again. My website includes a special page just for elephants — a place where they can all be seen together. I hope they bring others the same sense of strength and comfort they’ve given me.  Elephant Art Collection

A percentage of every sale of original elephant artwork will be donated to the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, a charity dedicated to rescuing and rehabilitating orphaned elephants in Kenya. Their tireless work in protecting and reintegrating elephants into the wild is a cause close to my heart, and your purchase helps support their mission.