Amelia Hansen earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Western Michigan University and worked for 28 years as an independent professional illustrator and designer, focusing on science and nature subjects while working in watercolor, colored pencil, and ink. She also worked for many years as a Visual Scribe, literally drawing on the walls during conferences and workshops. More recently, she has worked as a media specialist for a non-profit land trust, an opportunity for effective creative outreach within the conservation field. Her photography reflects one facet of her long quest to create art that connects people and nature.