Natalie Jane Parker has supported a wide range of conservation causes over the years. She believes opening peoples eyes to wildlife and the importance of nature through art appreciation is a useful and subtle way to educate. Through starting a conversation about the beauty of wildlife, and generating interest, Natalie believes everyone can make a difference. Natalie is very proud of illustrating a reference book for school aged children on Australia's endangered wildlife.
Over the years she has donated artwork, prints, calendars, and numerous pieces of homewares like coffee cups, coasters, trays and placemats featuring her work. She has helped small wildlife care groups as well as supported larger conservation groups.
"Through my art I hope to encourage a greater appreciation and awareness of how unique Australia's wildlife is. I believe that we all have a responsibility to take care and protect our fauna and flora. We have such a diverse array of mammals, birds, fish, amphibians and insects. Some dangerous, and some are tiny and seemingly insignificant, but all are just as important as each other. Through my artwork I feel that I can help highlight how important it is to preserve wildlife we have left. "
Natalie has been a wildlife artist focusing on Australian fauna and flora since 1996. Her home and studio is nestled on 50 acres in the picturesque Hunter Valley, whose views provide daily inspiration for her art. Natalie paints in acrylic paint on clay coated board, which gives her the smooth surface which she requires to achieve her intricate details. Natalie takes her camera everywhere, spending countless hours at wildlife parks and even visiting local people who rescue orphaned and injured wildlife. Natalie's paintings have been published on numerous open and limited edition prints, jigsaw puzzles, calendars, and greeting cards. She also has been working with an Australian company called Ashdene for close to 20 years, with her work being featured on bone china mugs, trays, coasters, and placemats. She has also written and illustrated over 30 successful children's books, most are nature based.
"I hope that with my art, I will encourage greater awareness of how unique Australia's wildlife really is. We have such a diverse array of unique mammals, reptiles and birds, some dangerous, some tiny and insignificant, but all as important as the other. I believe that we all have a responsibility to take care of our country's fauna and flora and through my art I feel I can help highlight it's importance to preserve what we have left.
I will always continue to support wildlife conservation groups big and small with my art. We all need to help find ways to restore and protect the natural balance upon which all life depends. There are countless non-profit organisations giving countess hours and money to help our wildlife. Wildlife carers all around our country are dedicated to help our orphaned and injured wildlife. I believe it is important to support our little wildlife warrior groups just as much as larger organisations. 'Aussie Ark' , 'Australian Koala Foundation ' , Native Animal Tust Fund' and 'WILD Environmental Conservation organisation', all play an important roll in wildlife conservation."
