Kenya, The Safari Series

Karibu, 150cm x 120cm, mixed media on paper

In 2022, I was invited to take part in an artist residency with fellow artist Kate Jupe, thanks to The Safari Series, who are based near Nairobi. We spent two weeks there, discovering a landscape that felt completely different from anything I had experienced before.

The Safari Series is a collection of small, nature-based camps and creative spaces in Kenya, built around a strong commitment to conservation and community. Their approach goes beyond sustainability, aiming to actively support and regenerate the wild landscapes and local communities that surround them. Working in such an environment felt incredibly special - there was a real sense of connection to the land, and an emphasis on slow, immersive exploration.

During the first week, I stayed in a converted container home, usually rented out on Airbnb. It was a beautiful location, with sweeping views across the hills and rugged, rocky terrain. Each day, I would take my art materials out and draw from my surroundings. A small dog who belonged to the Airbnb would often follow me, becoming a sweet and loyal companion.

The experience of being there was unlike a traditional safari - The Safari Series encourages a more personal way of engaging with the landscape, whether through walking, observing wildlife, or simply spending time immersed in nature. This slower pace allowed me to really absorb the environment and translate it into my work.

I found the location to be a perfect place to respond through drawing and mixed media painting. The heat and dramatic landscape came through in my work, expressed with bright colours and energetic, joyful marks.

Back in my studio in London, I developed these ideas further into a large red painting that captured the essence of the trip. The work took on a bird’s-eye, map-like perspective, bringing together fragments of memory from the residency. Symbolic elements - animals, objects, and moments from the experience - were woven into the composition, creating a layered, personal narrative of the landscape and my time within it.