My name is Tori Ratcliffe and I´m a professional wildlife and pet portrait artist based in Edinburgh. I started painting with watercolours back in 2012 and I absolutely hated it when I started out because I found it so difficult! But then I developed my own unique style, applying the paint first in loose expressive strokes and then drawing the details in with fineliner on top. 6 years later and here I am with a career as an animal artist! However, I always make sure I give back to the animals that I paint by raising money for wildlife conservation charities - this is a strong ethos within my business.
So I´ve been working closely with many charities, developing my fundraising technique to raise even more money for our planet´s endangered animals. I´ve now raised and donated over £11,500 for various conservation charities through the sale of artwork and prints - with no plan of stopping! Apart from that I´ve been generally growing my business, I´ve had a couple more solo exhibitions in both Scotland and England which were fantastic.
Positivity is key - negative thoughts lead to inaction! I would like to say that there´s a change in the wind although I may be biased by the types of articles I choose to read and the people I spend time with! There are a lot of issues facing our planet, supporting conservation charities is the number one priority for me as it´s so vital we protect our planet´s few remaining wild spaces and the animals in them because everything in earth is connected - with each building block you take out you weaken the system, risking collapse. I´ve started visiting schools to talk about my artwork and am working on some ideas for schools to get ´naturfied´ - children are our planet´s future and I worry we risk losing touch with the natural world altogether as the virtual one takes over.
Sungai Putri forest is home to one of the largest populations of Orangutans. Orangutans needs Sungai Putri and Sungai Putri needs us.
sign the petition.
https://t.co/Ykr197jF8F— Tori Ratcliffe Art (@torirats)
Of course! It´s one of my favourite parts of my job - I love animals (dogs in particular!) so I´m lucky that my emails mostly consist of cute pet photos!! All I need from you is a good quality photo to work from. All communication is done via email or through my facebook business page and all finished artwork is sent via Special Delivery in the post so it´s insured. There´s lots more helpful information on my website.
www.toriratcliffe-art.co.uk/commissions
The advice I always give (and this worked for me) is to try your art on the side whilst you´re working your normal job/studies. For me, I started painting at university when I was studying Creative Advertising, and Tori Ratcliffe Art just sort of blossomed out of nowhere because there was absolutely no pressure on it. Also, make sure you have a complete online presence. Get a website, get a facebook page, get an instagram... you can work wonders for your career just through good marketing skills.
I just dropped off a new collection of original artworks at the Tayberry Gallery in Perth (Scotland) which are available for sale. I will also be at The Game Fair (at Ragley Hall) at the end of this month with all my original artworks, prints and products including new
washbags courtesy of Bidbi
which have gone down a storm I have to say!
My website
www.toriratcliffe-art.co.uk
contains lots of information about me and my work as well as my charity collaborations, but the best places to stay up to date are definitely my facebook and instagram pages! Just search ´
Tori Ratcliffe Art
´
I feel like dogs are my spirit animals! But I always wanted to run like a horse ever since I was a kid so I´d have to go for that!
Well I finally got my first dog two years ago which to be honest was the only thing I wanted to make sure happened before I died haha! Next on the list is definitely to build a sustainable house and have a gigantic nature filled garden. Perfect!!
Anyone who works in wildlife or environmental conservation!!
@plasticfreemermaid
on instagram is also an absolute powerhouse of optimism and motivation to make the world a better place for our oceans.
Ha! I think we have made a bit of a mess on planet earth, I´d hate to see what we would do to poor mars! I´ll stay put I think haha!
I am a big fan of exploring your own country - I´m so content with Scottish wildlife and landscapes! But I have been fortunate enough to travel round Italy in a campervan and it completely blew my mind!
Beind careful! Being organised! Remembering where I put things! Generally keeping my brain inside my head!
Actually cant think of an answer for this one!! racking my brains but its no good haha, can we skip?
I´d buy up a giant bit of land a make a nature reserve! My absolute dream!
Italian - pasta is my absolute favourite!!
Messy! Things get thrown everywhere when I´m working - I´m constantly in a vicious circle of tidying up!
