Rachel Brooks | Ocean Artist & Photographer | UK
Rachel is a UK-based artist, a wildlife guide, and photographer. She grew up in Lancashire, travelled far and wide to Asia and Australia, but now she lives in the lovely little town of Oban in the Scottish Highlands.
Rachel has always loved drawing and painting, and during college this was set to be her career path, until…
Living with a group of young passionate conservationists while volunteering on a whale and dolphin research project in the Atlantic, really shifted her perspective of the world. This was when Rachel decided that this was exactly where she wanted to be - connected to the ocean.
Rachel has been lucky enough to travel and work in Asia and Australia, drawing stunning coastlines throughout her journey, and drawing her closer to the ocean.
Her adventures have inspired a lot of her creations, and she hopes she can continue to share a slice of her journey with others.
When did you first start your storytelling journey?
After graduating in Zoology, I left the UK to see more of the world and found myself working in the Scuba industry. I loved being able to introduce people to the underwater world, guide them through their first breaths, and see the excitement as they discovered the beauty of what lies beneath the surface. For five years this was my full-time job, it allowed me to connect with so many other like-minded individuals, and observe and learn so much about the marine life I was encountering.
When I eventually returned to the UK, I wanted to find a way to still keep that connection to the ocean and share the stories of all the incredible species I had seen. That is when I began drawing again. Art has allowed me to connect with people from all over the world, and share the stories and struggles of our marine life by capturing their beauty and the imagination of the viewer.
What path did you choose after leaving school?
After finishing school, I was lined up to apply to University to study art. Art had always been something I had been good at from an early age, it had never crossed my mind to study anything else. After returning from my first trip to the Canaries, I decided I wanted to pursue marine conservation and applied to study Zoology halfway through my time at college. This meant changing the subjects I had already been doing for a year to make space to take up biology.
Very determined to make it work, I completed the course in half the time and went on to Study Zoology at Leeds. Whales had always been a big fascination of mine, and I wanted to spend as much time at sea as possible. After graduating I headed to the Indian Ocean and then to Australia where I first started working as a Scuba Instructor. A path that allowed me to see so much of the underwater world and became a major influence in my art.
What are the fondest memories from your upbringing that you feel impacted your life choices and lifestyle today?
Having grown up in the Pennines away from the ocean, visiting the coast was always an exciting and far-off place. I remember being fascinated by rock pools and scouring the beach for washed-up treasures. But, it wasn't until my teenage years that the ocean began to play a much bigger part in my life.
At 15, I learned to dive in the Red Sea, the vibrancy and life there blew me away, and I had a great yearning to spend more time beneath the waves. Though at this point, I had no idea that I would go on to work in this field.
The turning point for me was at college when I was old enough to travel by myself - I spent two of my summers volunteering in the Canary Islands on a cetacean research project. I loved spending every day on the boats, living with like-minded passionate people, and talking to visitors about the whales and dolphins.
This is where I decided I wanted to work in marine conservation, and that trip very much changed my path and led me to study Zoology. Before this, I don't think I had ever met anyone studying or working in marine biology, it opened my eyes to an entirely different future.
What/who currently inspires you?
My biggest source of inspiration is the sea, I currently spend my summers working as a wildlife guide in the Hebrides. I had never before appreciated how incredible the marine environment is here on our doorstep.
The Sea of the Hebrides comes to life each summer, with basking sharks, seabirds, and large visiting whales. Spending so much time in this beautiful environment reminds me of what we have to lose and keeps me motivated to try and raise more awareness for the incredible species that live here and the problems they are facing.
What projects/stories are you currently working on?
For the past year, my work has been very focused on sharks, they are one of the most misunderstood species and are incredibly threatened by human activity. I wanted to show sharks in a different light, by showing their beauty, diversity, and showcasing all the fascinating things about them.
This has led me to collaborations with two shark charities, Saving The Blue and the Shark Trust, which I will be exhibiting with later this year. I aim to keep creating shark art and starting conversations to change the narrative on this species, this project is called 'Living Not Lurking'.
I am also working on a collection based on our UK waters inspired by my work in the Hebrides, the first piece 'John Coe' tells the story of our last two remaining resident orca and has been shortlisted for the Sketch For Survival competition by Explorers Against Extinction. Not only that, but I plan to develop this into a collection to introduce others to the wonders of this special place.
What would you most like to change in the world/environment today?
I would like to see people become more connected to the natural world, as someone who spends most of my time by the coast or under the water the natural world is a hugely important part of my everyday life.
I can see the changes and the problems before my own eyes. It’s difficult when most of the world’s population lives in urban areas disconnected from nature, I think it’s hugely important for conservation to reconnect people back to nature and for our own physical and mental well-being.
Only when people have a real understanding and care for the environment, will they want to work to save it.
Are there any books/documentaries that have guided your thinking, and that you'd like to recommend to other ocean lovers?
My Octopus Teacher is one of the most fascinating documentaries I've watched in recent years. Octopuses are one of my favourite species and the story here is so beautifully told.
I also recently listened to Sophie Pavelles 'Forget me Not' which is a wonderfully written book about 'finding the forgotten species of climate change Britain', it was enlightening to learn so much about different hidden species on our doorstep that may be usually overlooked.
What legacy do you hope to leave?
Introducing others to the ocean, sharing the fascinating creatures, science and stories in a hope that they will fall in love with them just as much as I have.
What advice would you give to anyone looking to follow their dreams as an Ocean Storyteller?
Having a voice for our ocean is now more important than ever, I think when you are pursuing something you really believe in it is when you shine brightest. Stay authentic to yourself, and share the stories that you feel the most passionate about, that way you will create the right audience and community to hear you.
It’s easy to become disheartened working in the field of conservation - focus on the things you can do, and what changes you can make and remember creating an impact on any scale is an amazing thing to do.
WEBSITE: https://rachelbrooksart.com/
INSTAGRAM: @rachelbrooksart
