In 2017, I began feeding a stray Arabian Mau cat outside my home in the Middle East. I named him Sparta after the film 300 because he guarded my doorway like a warrior. One day, when a vicious dog lunged towards me, Sparta stepped in front of me and faced the dog himself. By the time I returned to England in 2020, I already knew I could never leave him behind.

Most people think horses symbolise freedom. In my work, they represent something far more precise - truth, presence, and a connection that cannot be faked.

So next time you see a crow, don’t turn away.

Look up. Look inward.

What are they trying to show you?
What message do they carry on the wind?

I believe they appear for a reason.
They’re not just birds.
They are messengers of the sacred.

And if you listen -
You just might hear them calling your name too.

The animals I paint are not trends—they are messengers. Each one has shown up in my life (or yours) with purpose. When I paint them, I’m not just painting their form—I’m honouring their spirit, their story, and the sacred role they play in connecting us to God.