Category: Photography

My name is Amanda Ferras and I am a wildlife artist and photographer based in Ashford, Kent. I am an illustrator by profession and I love to work in various types of media including oil, watercolour, pastels and charcoal. I specialise in animals but I am equally at ease with portraits of people, often using charcoal to get the best effect.

After graduating from the University of Kent with a First Class Hons degree in Illustration, I decided to gain practical experience in the industry and initially worked for a sculpting company, which created theatre sets and props for movie premiers out of polystyrene, including building Thunder Bird 3! Thereafter, I undertook a PGCE teacher training course at Canterbury Christ Church University and taught Art & Design, along with Graphics & Photography, at Invicta Grammar School in Maidstone.

However, whilst working I continued to produce my own art work (undertaking private commissions) and develop my interest in photography. I gave up teaching in 2008 and now concentrate on art and photography full-time. This enables me to combine my two great passions: wildlife and travel.

 

‘One Tusk’ (Oil Painting) © Amanda Ferras

I have been very fortunate to travel to some fantastic locations to sketch and photograph all manner of wildlife in its natural environment. To date my source material has come from the world famous Masai Mara in Kenya (where I spent time photographing with Jonathan Scott and his wife Angie); the Serengeti in Tanzania; the Okavango Delta in Botswana; South Luangwa National Park in Zambia; the Parc National des Volcans in Rwanda; a number of national parks in India including Bandhavgarh & Kanha ; and most recently I managed to visit my first polar region, completing a circumnavigation of Spitsbergen in the High Arctic, on a twenty-man schooner, as part of a 16-day expedition.

‘A Dusting of Snow’ (Oil Painting) © Amanda Ferras

Closer to home I like to spend time chasing our own British wildlife, which I find is every bit as interesting and photogenic as those I have seen in more exotic locations. In fact, in many ways, it is much more pleasing to capture images of British wildlife, as you have to work much harder, given it is so shy and not habituated to jeeps or visitors. I have a number of locations that I visit regularly locally including Knole Park, Challock, the Romney Marshes and any garden that I see a butterfly land in!

I have to admit that one of my favourite destinations is the stunning Cairngorms National Park, Scotland. February usually provides great opportunities to view some iconic British wildlife such as the endangered red squirrel; the endearing crested tit and the elegant red deer.

If you would like to see more of my work please visit my website www.amandaferras-wildlifegallery.co.uk or come along to one of my exhibitions, which are generally held locally and you can find details of future dates and venues on my website in the events section.

All photos © Amanda Ferras 2014