Marielle Ebner Rijke

My affinity for animals and art began in childhood. Growing up in rural Wales I spent much of my time with horses and many happy days working on the neighbouring farm. I went on to gain a B.A.Hons in Fine Art at Leeds Polytechnic and an M.A. in South Asian Studies at SOAS.

Animals were always my focus throughout and since then I have always drawn them, inspired particularly by the creatures that have an established coexistence with people – the cows, camels and buffalo that I encountered when travelling and working in India for example, and the huge role played by the horse in history. Since moving to the edge of Dartmoor my work has been influenced by the creatures of the moorland, wild and domestic, inspired by their ability to thrive in and adapt to their harsh environment.