On His Marks

The art of anticipation

There is something captivating about the way a big cat moves. Every movement is deliberate, every muscle controlled, and when stalking prey, they possess an extraordinary ability to become almost motionless.

On His Marks captures a cougar in one of those fleeting moments. Balanced on a rocky outcrop, one paw hovering, his attention fixed on something beyond our view. Is he about to move, or will he remain, waiting for the right longer, waiting for the perfect opportunity?

I wanted to capture that wonderful tension between stillness and action, without the need to depict the action itself.

Finding a different way

As many of you know, the last few years have brought some unexpected challenges, and I've had to make significant adjustments to the way I work and these looser charcoal studies are part of that process. By concentrating on the essential details and allowing other areas to fade into the paper, I'm experimenting with a way of working that requires less sustained detail.

It's still a learning process, and one that comes with its own challenges, but I'm pleased to be finding moments where I can continue doing something I love.

And perhaps that's what I enjoy most about this piece. So much is left unsaid. The cougar's expression tells us he's engaged, the hovering paw suggests what might come next, but the rest is left to the imagination.

After all, sometimes the most compelling part of a story is the moment before it unfolds.

On His Marks will be available as a fine art print as part of my Christmas collection, with 10% of profits donated to Wild About Mayfield, a local community conservation initiative.

I've always believed that art can play a part in protecting the wildlife and natural world that inspires it. And while much of my work celebrates animals from distant corners of the globe, conservation doesn't always have to begin somewhere far away.

Sometimes the greatest difference we can make starts right on our doorstep.

By supporting small, local conservation groups, and encouraging communities to connect and work together, we can help create a wider network of care for nature. Lots of small efforts, collectively making a meaningful difference.

A little art, a little conservation, and hopefully a little difference.