In 2007 I was awarded a Fellowship grant by Artists for Conservation (AFC) to conduct their 5th Flag Expedition. AFC is, as the name suggests, a group of international artists who use their work to support conservation. The Flag Expedition program allows artist members to apply for funding to paint endangered species or habitats around the world. My proposal was to spend 6 weeks at the Painted Dog Conservation project (PDC) in Zimbabwe where I would track & sketch highly endangered African Wild Dogs (known as Painted Dogs in Zimbabwe).
The dogs are nomadic and often difficult to find, which is why I wanted to base myself at a 'dog' conservation project, where the staff would have a better idea of how to find the dogs. I also wanted to spend time at a conservation project, rather than a pure research project, because I wanted to see how the project benefits the local people. PDC has extensive links with the local community. They employ approximately 60 local staff and have close links with schools and villagers in the area.
So, in August 2007 I set off, flying into Johannesburg in South Africa then up to Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe. PDC is located a couple of hours away, just outside Hwange National Park. The day I arrived was the opening of the new Visitor Center so all was buzzing. I had a couple of hours to settle in and then spent the next 6 weeks sketching, writing and photographing.
More to come soon...
