GIVING BACK TO THE EARTH

In the spirit of reciprocity, I will be donating two trees for each painting and print that finds a new home. These trees will be planted through Plant-for-the-Planet.

Inspired by the Nobel Peace Prize winner Wangari Mathai, Plant-for-the-Planet is a global movement that aims to restore forest ecosystems and to tackle the climate crisis and biodiversity loss. They not only initiate and support restoration projects and research but also empower young people to become advocates for climate justice. Their motto “Stop Talking, Start Planting” struck a chord with my son. He was passionate about protecting the natural world, but he also felt powerless and frustrated. He started his first campaign to gather funds for the Siberian Tiger when he was 6 years old. It was the first of many projects. But over the years it was heart-breaking to see a growing despair in him, disillusioned that so many people, peers and adults alike, seemed to be indifferent. When he came across Plant-for-the-Planet, for the first time he was able to gather with other children who were also feeling the weight of an uncertain future and take collective action not only by planting trees, but also by informing others about the climate crisis and the measures needed to make a change.

The experience transformed him and reignited a sense of hope and purpose. For that, I will always be grateful. This is why I have chosen to donate two trees through their organisation for each painting and print that is sold. The mangrove trees are planted by a sister organisation - the Mida Bidii Yetu Women's Group - in Mida Creek in Kenya. The area is a stopover ground for many migratory birds and a foraging heaven for green turtles.

You can find out more about their work here:

https://www.plant-for-the-planet.org/

Mida Bidii Yetu Women's Group

Sustainability in practice

My love for the Earth runs through every aspect of my work. Here are some of the ways that I am trying to take care of Her:

Giclée Prints are made to last

I offer high quality, fine art giclée prints. They are created with water-based UV inks ensuring each print faithfully reproduces the tone, temperature and colour of the original image. The inks contain enhanced light stabilisers; protecting the vibrancy of your prints for over 100 years in ideal conditions.

Sustainably sourced Hahnemühle archival quality paper

  • All of my fine art prints are printed on sustainably sourced Hahnemühle German Etching paper 310 g/m².
  • The paper is Acid free, making it highly resistant to ageing.
  • Hahnemühle only uses fibres that come from sustainable and FSC or PEFC certified wood plantations. For every tree harvested, 3-4 trees are replanted.
  • Their production site (first established in 1584) is situated in an official landscape conservation area meaning that all practices must be environmentally friendly, sustainable and strictly controlled. They are certified according to the ISO 14001 guideline for environmental management.

You can find out more about their measures to protect the environment under:

https://www.hahnemuehle.com/en/about-us/sustainability/environmental-manifesto.html

Each print is individually printed

To avoid unnecessary waste each print is individually produced for you when you place an order.

Shorter shipping distances for a lower environmental impact

Prints are produced for you as close to your location as possible. The orders are locally fulfilled by an international network of production hubs. This means that packages
cover less distance and spend less time in transit creating a much lower carbon footprint.

Archival quality paper for original artworks

I use acid free archival quality paper for all my original artworks. Many of my images are painted on Hahnemühle paper.

Non-toxic paints

I am careful to choose and create watercolour paints that are non-toxic, not harmful to water organisms and contain no micro-plastics.

Electricity from renewable sources

The electricity I use to power my studio / workspace / home comes from renewable energy.

Thank You

for helping me give back to the Earth with my art