Who else is trying to assist small companies and impartial retailers this Christmas season? Prime of my pointers for my shopper picks this Yuletide is supporting people (notably artists and creatives affected by the present pandemic) and naturally supporting wildlife and conservation charities.

I’m delighted to have found wildlife illustration model, Wild Traces, by zoologist Jen Parker; which manages to fulfill each of these necessities.

Jen’s differ of illustrations incorporates collaborating in enjoying playing cards, calendars and present wrap; and comes with the promise of a minimal carbon footprint; with all packaging being recyclable, and the utilization of UK-based print firms that drive inexperienced values.

I used to be excited to talk with Jen to look out out further about her enterprise, which began out on this hardest of years for mannequin new start-ups.

“I create characterful pen drawings of wildlife – usually endangered species – and share them alongside an optimistic story all through the featured species’ conservation journey,” she outlined. “This 12 months, I’ve began promoting my illustrations as prints and greetings collaborating in enjoying playing cards.”

Final 12 months, Jen ran an ‘Endangered Creation’ on social media, the place she posted a particular wildlife-themed design every single day of introduction, and people designs are actually accessible as collaborating in enjoying playing cards on her internet web page. “I’m planning on doing the same this 12 months, maybe with a give consideration to British wildlife,” she tells me.

Jen has been sort ample to supply one fortunate reader of this weblog the prospect to win a set of six Christmas card designs price £15.00! Extra on that later, as we first ‘Meet the Maker’.

Meet the conservationist behind the enterprise

Theres a quote that appears to be doing the rounds on social media not too approach again; “Once you assist small enterprise, you’re supporting a dream” — efficiently, I wished to know further about that dream…

Kate: Thanks for taking the day journey of your busy schedule to talk to me, Jen. First factors first, the place and the way in which by which did your ardour for wildlife start? 

Jen: Rising up on the Isle of Wight, I’ve frequently been surrounded by nature. I beloved spending time exterior, nonetheless it wasn’t till I used to be about 17 that I turned obsessive about biology.

Skip forward just a few years and, having achieved a level in zoology and a masters in palaeoanthropology, I used to be packing my baggage for a six-month postgraduate diploma in endangered species restoration. The course, run by Durrell Wildlife Conservation Notion, was based mostly in Mauritius. I hoped that it’d assist me to look out out whether or not or not or not I wished to be an area conservationist or begin a PhD. My time in Mauritius is the place my ardour for conservation really intensified.

After perhaps primarily probably the most unbelievable experiences engaged on a various of world-renowned endangered species restoration initiatives, I made a decision that I didn’t have to be an area conservationist. Nor did I have to do a PhD.

I used to be starting to really actually really feel as if there was a facet of conservation that was generally neglected, and that presumably I am going to assist with. People, and notably human behaviour change, is integral to conservation success – and nevertheless hardly built-in deeply and considerably into conservation methods.

That was as quickly as I made a decision that among the finest methods I am going to have a really highly effective have an effect on could also be by communications.

That’s fascinating to be all ears to, and one issue I completely relate to. So how did that evolve into you launching Wild Traces?

After I had exhausted my funds staying in Mauritius for so long as my checking account would permit, I travelled as soon as extra to the UK and took a job as editor of a veterinary journal.

It wasn’t conservation, nonetheless it was a captivating place that taught me an infinite deal relating to the editorial world together with the implausible veterinary occupation.

It was furthermore in these first months as soon as extra contained in the UK that I felt impressed to pick up an artwork work pen for the primary time. I continued to create pen drawings of wildlife in my spare time and, with the encouragement of family and mates, held a stall at just a few Christmas markets close to my base in Oxfordshire.

In June 2019 I handed in my resignation and moved to Montserrat contained in the Caribbean, the place my companion was predominant the Mountain Rooster Restoration Programme.

I spent just a few months working as a contract creator and editor ahead of focusing my time on drawing and organising a promoting approach for Wild Traces.

The thought to launch a conservation-focused illustration enterprise had been behind my concepts for a while, nonetheless I knew it’d take some important dedication to place into motion. Happily, a swap to the Caribbean provided the right setting to get caught in.

That’s superior. What has been perhaps primarily probably the most rewarding a part of launching Wild Traces as a enterprise?

It’s scary launching a mannequin new enterprise, notably when your explicit particular person work is the product. However I’ve discovered it rewarding from the very starting.

It’s so pretty to be all ears to that my paintings work brings individuals pleasure, or that anyone has learnt one issue new or modified only a bit behaviour on account of they research the story accompanying a bit.

I’m sharing my paintings work with a splendidly engaged viewers of those who uncover themselves passionate relating to the pure world, and I couldn’t have requested for added in my first 12 months.

One significantly thrilling second this 12 months was when Jersey Zoo put of their first order for his or her retailer – after which one completely different one, on account of individuals had been on the lookout for my factors!

That was fairly a surreal feeling and I’m really attempting ahead to reaching further prospects by rising my wholesale providing as rapidly as factors are only a bit nearer to ‘widespread’ contained in the retail world.

I’ve my fingers crossed for you. Which merchandise or designs have been hottest?

The Wild Traces 2021 calendar is proving extremely regarded in the intervening time. The wall calendar selections 12 of my endangered species drawings and 15% of earnings are donated to Durrell Wildlife Conservation Notion. Folks have tended to purchase it as a Christmas current; they’re really totally glad to assist a small enterprise together with a wildlife conservation charity whereas doing their Christmas procuring – notably this 12 months!

My hottest print has been the Asian elephant (she’s my favorite, too!), adopted intently by the very candy juvenile Brazilian tapir. There’s not a standout winner relating to collaborating in enjoying playing cards – there’s one factor for everyone and plainly all people has a particular favorite!

So, how do you go about selecting the animal species you utilize for the designs?

Final 12 months, I targeted on endangered animals and tried to cowl each sort of species – from sea turtles to sloths. The arrival thought dawned on me on the finish of November and I requested my companion if he thought I am going to do one design every single day of December up till Christmas.

I don’t know why I bothered asking, truly he was going to say constructive. So I publicly devoted and that was it! Each night time time I acquired proper right here up with a plan for the next day’s card design so, to be dependable, there wasn’t numerous a method to it!

This 12 months I’ve deliberate forward. I’m going to supply consideration to the wildlife now we’ve got now correct proper right here on our doorsteps contained in the UK – from white-tailed eagles and natterjack toads to hedgehogs and hares.

I actually really feel it’s vital to attach with the wildlife now we’ve got now at dwelling; it’s easy to overlook what unbelievable biodiversity we’ll uncover in Britain’s pure areas, and even in our gardens and parks.

Quite a lot of the species I’m that options this 12 months are the themes of conservation work. Others are doing efficiently, nonetheless merely couldn’t be missed; it wouldn’t be a British wildlife assortment with out a purple fox!

Now I’m excited for December to come back again once more spherical, merely to see your introduction assortment! In what methods do you hope your work will encourage others to attach with wildlife?

Every drawing brings the viewer only a bit bit nearer to nature and, I hope, will assist them to primarily actually really feel further linked to the good world that we’re so fortunate to be part of.

My drawings are sometimes accompanied with a conservation story. The tales describe the exhausting work being undertaken by conservation organisations to guard the species and sometimes incorporate some data on what we’ll do to assist.

I actually really feel individuals all over the place on this planet have felt further linked with the pure world this 12 months than ever ahead of, given the weird and troublesome circumstances the pandemic has launched with it. That was one completely different of my causes for specializing in British wildlife this 12 months.

Having spent a lot time indoors, we turned an rising variety of conscious of the vital have an effect on the pure setting has on our well-being. We had been staring out of our residence dwelling home windows recognising birds and bugs that will not have caught our consideration ahead of. And as quickly as we had been able to take a stroll contained in the woods, we relished the prospect to reconnect with the pores and pores and skin world. I hope that my introduction assortment this 12 months will assist to nourish these emotions, and even possibly fast individuals to positioned on their boots and go for a aware stroll amongst nature.

Now, you talked about that the Wild Traces 2020 introduction assortment would even be supporting wildlife conservation. Are you able to inform us further?

Sure, for my 2020 introduction assortment, I’ve partnered with Folks’s Notion for Endangered Species – a implausible charity that raises each consciousness and funds for conservation initiatives contained in the UK and additional afield.

I am going to probably be highlighting just some of their good initiatives contained in the UK and promoting the distinctive festive drawings and donating all earnings to PTES.