Rob / ‘RAG’ Davies has had a career in conservation both in Africa and back home in Wales. The mapping consultancy which Rob set up is now a fine art printing studio for Rookwood and Rob now paints as often as he can. Although happiest when painting, Rob enjoys helping to build communities be they raptor biologists across Africa, biological recorders in West Wales, or an artist printing collaborative at the gallery in Solva.
Rob makes sketches, pen and ink drawings and paintings (still learning many media) of natural history subjects and their wild habitats. His main art projects describe the ecology of parts of Africa, Spain and Wales. Early works contained great detail, especially his illustrations for a fieldguide on African Raptors, a subject close to his heart. But now Rob’s art is not constrained by the need to illustrate and identify. His paintings are looser - conveying more about movement and light, with more freedom.
Rob often uses his converted vans as hides to get close to wildlife, as mobile studios. But increasingly he is working on foot, hiking mountains and coastal paths. Nearly all his work is drawn from life in this way but paintings may be finished in the studio.
Rob’s wish is that through his art he is able to help communicate the need to treasure and take better care of our natural heritage and wild places. He has donated major works to help several conservation projects in recent years.
ragdavies.art (originals and artist news)
