2025

I created '18 years to compare' as my most important and largest scale project to date for my final major project in my art foundation course.

The National Institute of Health declare to take a 'human-based approach' and reduce animal testing.

2024

I moved from Essex (UK South East) to Cumbria (UK North West) with my family. This move was to make a huge lifestyle change, and give better access to education choices.

2023

I volunteered at an art community shop assisting with workshops, helping people of all ages and ability to create art, jewellery, and other decorative pieces. During this, I learnt some jewellery creating skills from a silversmith, which I hope to develop in the future.

2022

I said goodbye to my childhood cat, and the same year, the Big Cat Safety Act was introduced in the US. This prevents private ownership of larger feline species like lions, tigers, and leopards, as many lived in unsuitable conditions in private homes.

2021

The beginning of my animal-based art works at GCSE level, and the year I started dating my partner.

This year the Chinese paddlefish went extinct due to overfishing (primarily for their caviar) and construction of dams removing their habitats.

2020

The Covid-19 pandemic, which had a dramatic effect on all our lives.

2019

I met my extended pet family, nicknamed 'The Furm', so now have four crazy cats all living with me!

Pangolins were declared the most trafficked animal having 100 tonnes traded in 2019, equivalent to 100,000 pangolins. They are traded and killed for their scales which are falsely believed to have medicinal properties.

2018

I joined secondary school, and met the group of friends who have helped shape who I have become today.

Due to illegal exotic pet trading the 'splendid poison frog' went extinct (along with many others).

2017

PCB chemicals in the ecosystem are declared to be causing infertility in killer whales and other ocean life. This is likely to lead to significant decline in numbers, and potentially extinction in the longer term.

2014

The year we rescued my cat Henry, who coincidentally has the same fur markings (a small white paw spot on otherwise completely dark fur) as my grandparent's late dog who I loved.

It was also one of many years with high levels of coral reef bleaching. These colourless 'bleached' coral reefs are essentially dead, their skeletons are the remains we see today.

2013

I moved from the village I grew up in to a new area, and a new school.

2012

I met my best friend who inspired my passion for art. They have inspired and challenged me throughout my life, and without this event I wonder if this project would even exist?

2011

Millions of farm animals died in the Tohoku earthquake tsunami. During all natural disasters thousands (even millions) of animals die due to either the event itself or starving from being stuck in captivity with no chance of escape. They are usually forgotten in the scheme of the disaster due to the other more direct impacts on human life, but their loss should be recorded and mourned too.

2010

I joined primary school, and in the winter, my brother was born!

2008

Rhino poaching tripled from previous years, and has continued to grow ever since. They are hunted for their horns, which in some cultures are falsely believed to have medicinal properties.

2007

I learned to walk.

At the same time, a record high of ice caps melting was recorded. The melting of icecaps not only raises sea-levels but also results in a loss of habitat for animals like polar bears, who have to swim far more than before, making it difficult to maintain enough energy to survive, struggling to catch their ocean-adapted prey.

2006

I was born, beginning the chain of events which led to the creation of this project.

While I entered the world, 2006 saw the Baiji dolphin leave, the first dolphin species to be declared extinct during modern times.