Description
“I remember the first time I saw a black rhino on foot whilst completing my field guiding qualification. We had been moving through the dense scrub of southern Africa when, suddenly, this magnificent animal appeared. Its head was raised, alert and watchful, its powerful form partly disappearing into the vegetation. Our group froze, caught somewhere between wonder and fear. For a few moments we simply stood and watched. Then, just as quickly, the rhino turned and disappeared back into the bush, accompanied by the crashing of branches as it made its way through the dense scrub.
Warrior was created to celebrate the memory of that fleeting encounter. Seeing a black rhino on foot, without the safety and distance of a vehicle, felt like a rare privilege. It was a reminder that we were entering its world, on its terms. Although I spent a great deal of time in the African bush, encounters with black rhino were never commonplace. To see one in its natural environment, even for such a short time, made a lasting impression on me.
The title Warrior reflects both the strength and resilience of this remarkable animal, as well as the vulnerability of a species that remains so threatened. Through this drawing, I wanted to capture not just the rhino itself, but the feeling of that first encounter: the stillness, the anticipation, and the awe of standing so close to something so powerful and yet so elusive.”
