Meet the Artist
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Alicia van den Abeele
© Nick Astor
The artist behind the canvas
So... where to start! I am originally from Belgium, but was born and bred in London. I've always had a strong affinity with animals and always knew I would dedicate my life's work to them. Although I grew up in one of the world's busiest cities, most of my childhood was spent outdoors. Huge kudos to my parents for opening up our eyes to so many beautifully raw corners of the earth, encouraging us to engage with different cultures and for making the natural world the heart of who we are.
Art
I took art classes at a young age and with the exception of a few instances, have been making art ever since.
Unsurprisingly, my first subjects were mostly animals, usually pets. I then continued and expanded my style into wildlife art, giving rise to the artworks you can see today.
When Covid and the first lockdown hit in 2019, I decided to dedicate my time to making art.
© Alice Peretie
© Alice Peretie
I picked up my paintbrushes and pencils, shared my artworks on my Instagram pages and started selling my first limited edition prints. Since then, I have sold more than 100 artworks, commissioned pieces, fundraised over £4,000 for various wildlife charities and collaborated with fellow organisations to spotlight important conservation issues.
Art is my version of therapy. To be able to create something from scratch, to bring it to life with personal character is incredibly fulfilling, but it is the creative process that makes being an artist so wonderful.
Academia
© Alice Peretie
Alongside being an artist, I graduated with Bachelor of Science in Zoology from the University of Bristol, and completed my Master of Research in Anthrozoology from Hartpury University, with Distinction.
I was thrilled that my Master's research on horse-human communication was awarded the top research of 2021. My work drew on psychological and philosophical concepts to explain and narrow the gap between humans and the rest of the animal kingdom.
© Gregoire van den Abeele
To read more about the inspirations behind
my work, have a look at my Philosophy & Ethos.
