Biography

Sarah McComb-Turbitt, a Marine Biologist turned artist and new mom, has dedicated her life to wildlife conservation. Her journey from researching whales and penguins to the vibrant art world has created a unique collision point between the science and art worlds. Born in Chatsworth, Ontario, Sarah’s love for nature and the ocean began at a young age. Growing up and always dreaming about the sea, she moved to Halifax in 2013 to study Marine Biology at Dalhousie University and make her dream of studying ocean animals a reality.

Sarah has been an avid painter since she was young, pursuing art courses throughout high school and painting in her free time throughout her studies in marine biology at Dalhousie University and the University of British Columbia. With articles now published in the Marine Ecology Progress Series and Marine Mammal Science, Sarah dedicated her early career to science. While in Halifax, Sarah researched long-finned pilot whales and cultivated her skills as a wildlife photographer out on the ocean. She graduated with a degree in marine biology and a certificate in animal behaviour in 2017. Meanwhile, Sarah was invited to be the Art Exhibit Coordinator on the Conference Committee for the 22nd Biennial Conference on the Biology of Marine Mammals.

In 2017, Sarah moved to Vancouver, Canada, and began researching gentoo penguins with the University of British Columbia during her Master’s of Science in Zoology. This work granted her the opportunity to camp beside the penguin colony in the Falkland Islands and experienced the full range of animals that call the windy islands home. She spent two weeks in April observing moulting penguins and animals preparing for migration while attaching monitoring devices to gentoo penguins that would track foraging behaviour for six months. Sarah then returned to the Falklands in September and October the same year. She spent six weeks collecting devices while witnessing the penguins amongst many other species prepare for spring and the mating season. Meanwhile, in 2018, while attending the 27th International Ornithological Congress, Sarah discovered Artists for Conservation (AFC) when she came across 'Silent Skies,' a collaborative mural by AFC members depicting all 678 endangered species of birds. Inspired by this experience, she immersed herself in wildlife art and was accepted as an associate member of AFC in 2019 and was awarded signature status in 2022.

Now, from her studio in Owen Sound, Ontario, Sarah captures both wildlife and her adventures in paint. Through spending many hours observing the subjects of her art, Sarah strives to capture the raw beauty of wildlife and the personalities of the animals that live there. Since transitioning to painting full-time in 2020, she has supported conservation with every wildlife work created, underlining her unwavering commitment to the cause. Sarah has achieved standing in AFC's annual juried exhibit for the past four years.

Support for Conservation: 

Since 2020, Sarah has been working on an exhibit featuring the wildlife of the remote Falkland Islands using photographs from her graduate research expedition and supporting Falkland Conservation to help conserve the biodiversity and natural environment of the Falkland Islands. Falklands Conservation is a non-governmental organization working to protect wildlife through practical conservation projects, surveys and scientific studies, annually monitor seabird populations, rehabilitate oiled penguins, publish guides and information on many aspects of the Falkland Islands environment, and involve Islanders of all ages in their activities.

Sarah has also collaborated with Australian photographers Robyn and Wade Hughes. After meeting in 2016 while researching pilot whales, a shared vision for displaying the behaviour and personalities of animals submerged in their habitat was born. Years later, this collective passion has evolved into a breathtaking collection of secret underwater scenes supporting the Western Australian Ocean Foundation and its goal of creating a healthy and resilient ocean supporting all life.

In 2024, Sarah teamed up with Oceana Canada, part of the largest international advocacy group dedicated solely to ocean conservation, to create artwork stickers of four key marine species in a public outreach campaign. Oceana Canada works with civil society, academics, fishers, Indigenous Peoples and the federal government to return Canada's formerly vibrant oceans to health and abundance. Restoring Canada's oceans strengthens our communities, creates economic and nutritional benefits, and protects our future, as we believe Canada has a national and global obligation to manage our natural resources responsibly.

Most recently, Sarah teamed up with Wildlife Preservation Canada (WPC) to raise awareness about Canada's most vulnerable species at risk. Through a public challenge, Sarah painted as many endangered Canadian species as she could during one month, completing 206 hours of painting. This collection features 15 incredible species at risk, with Sarah donating 15% of all original paintings and 50% of five limited-edition prints to Wildlife Preservation Canada. WPC saves critically endangered species whose numbers in the wild are so low that hands-on action is the last defence to save them from extinction. WPC is the only organization in Canada to provide this critical need for wildlife in recovery efforts across the country, from the single population of endangered frogs in BC to the disappearing pollinators across Ontario.

As her career as a wildlife artist grows, Sarah hopes to expand her support and partner with other organizations and researchers to highlight animals and locations from around the world. Her work goes beyond art as a powerful tool to capture the unique behaviours of animals and foster a deeper appreciation for our planet's diversity. Sarah's ultimate goal is to enhance the connection between the viewer and the natural world and create a window into the sentimental moments in the lives of animals. Since transitioning to painting full-time in 2020, she has supported conservation with every wildlife work created, underlining her unwavering commitment to the cause. Sarah has achieved standing in AFC's annual juried exhibit for the past four years.

 

 

Special Achievements: 

Publications

McComb-Turbitt, S.P., Crossin, G.T., Tierney, M., Brick, P., Thompson, P.D., Whitehead, T.D., Auger- Méthé, M.A. (2023). Diving efficiency at depth and pre-breeding foraging effort increase with haemoglobin levels in gentoo penguins. Marine Ecology Progress Series, 722:1–17. https://doi.org/10.3354/meps14441

McComb-Turbitt, S.P., Costa J., Whitehead, H., Auger-Méthé, M.A. (2021). Small-scale spatial distributions of long-finned pilot whales change over time, but foraging hot spots are consistent: Significance for marine wildlife tourism management. Marine Mammal Science, 37:1196–1211. https://doi.org/10.1111/mms.12821