Introduction:

There are honestly so many people who have encouraged and supported me on this journey. I intend to keep adding to this page, so please know that what you see below may not be the final cast of special mentions I hope to show.

Special Mentions

Fiona Coley

Australian ex professional gymnast, and current Chanel make up artist, Fiona Coley has been friends with Helen for over ten years. She was one of the main driving forces in encouraging Helen to pursue her art in a more professional capacity. Fi’s bell phase lace monitor, Mötley, was Helen’s first realistic reptile and her first print release. Fi helped Helen to set up and use Instagram as one means to display and advertise her work, as well as connect her with other herp owners and photographers who could offer her models to draw and start a foundation to work from.

Zac Herr - ZTHPhotography

Zac was one of the first photographer’s Helen connected with via social media who supported her in using his images as references for her artwork. US based, Zac works as a freelance photographer mostly focusing on herps and invertebrates. His work is stunning, capturing every detail of some of the smallest animals we have on the planet with such beauty and simplicity.

Feel free to check out his work:

Zac’s original photo of the frill-neck lizard, “Scout” Helen drew using coloured pencils.

Billy Brown Photography.

Australian-born Billy Brown is another photographer Helen met early on via social media who was happy to collaborate with her. Currently living in Sydney, Australia, Billy owns a number of exotic pets himself. His photography is constantly evolving with style and skill, focusing on a variety of images from buildings, wildlife, aesthetic lighting shots and macro images of eyes, invertebrates and fish. Helen Grey’s “Blue betta” pencil drawing was based on a reference of one of Billy’s photos back in 2018.

Feel free to check out more of Billy’s images on his Instagram account:

Georgie Puschner

Georgie went to High School with Helen’s husband and takes some fantastic photos. Georgie is an Australian Nature and Wildlife Photographer at Earth Works at AWARE Wildlife, however she lived for some years in Canada. She has traveled to many places around the world to capture nature and wildlife, such as Antarctica, Alaska, Canada, Australia, Brazil, Patagonia, Argentina, Chile, and the Galapagos Islands.

Feel free to check out her Instagram for more:

Anita Ivill - Ginger Snaps Photography and Design

Anita is another of Helen’s personal friends supporting her with her work. Anita is a freelance photographer and works in marketing and graphic design. Her work focuses on home and food marketing, as well as nature and travel photography.

Jess Findlay

Jess is a nature photographer based in Vancouver, Canada. His photography beautifully captures nature in all of its awe, from small hummingbirds to mighty musk ox. Click below to explore his Instagram and website:

Shaaz Jung

Shaaz Jung is a nature photographer working with National Geographic and focuses mostly in areas of Asia, India and wild Africa. Shaaz’ work primarily focuses on big cats, however it also beautifully captures elephants and other large mammals.

John Crawley

John Crawley was discovered by Helen via his Instagram account, @JC_Wings. As the name suggests, the majority, if not all work here is of various birds. All of these shots capture the true majesty, delicacy, grace and awe seen in these wonderful creatures. Birds are not his only focus however, he also runs two other accounts that also show wildlife and nature in general, as well as more human images and places.