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about the artist
GUY COMBES (AFC, SAA) was born in Kenya in 1971, the son of the late
wildlife artist, Simon Combes. His art background came not just from his
father, but an interest in exploring different forms of media and
commercial application. His education included sculpture and design at
college in England where he also majored in history of art. He returned
to Kenya in 2001 and quickly rekindled his love for Africa and her
wildlife, becoming involved in a number of conservation causes for which
he now tirelessly campaigns, including Soysambu Conservancy - his
Kenyan home - and preserving the rich mosaic of biodiversity in the
Great Rift Valley.
Guy has been Artist in Residence at the Hiram Blauvelt Art Museum since 2006 and this has given him the opportunity to reach an American audience, not just with his art, but his experience of Africa. He is a signature member of both Artists for Conservation and the Society of Animal Artists, from whom his work has been both awarded and accepted into national museum shows and tours. He regularly revisits Kenya where he leads expeditions for artists and groups of conservation biology students from the US. He has also regularly lectured at zoos and universities on the East Coast including Yale and George Mason, with whom he has set up research programs at a facility he helped develop at Soysambu Conservancy.
This is where he has found his niche, and the future for Guy will involve his time being spent working on artistic projects that bring awareness to international audiences, and developing his own field knowledge on the ground in Kenya in order to inform himself and the people he is so passionate about showing it to.
Guy has been Artist in Residence at the Hiram Blauvelt Art Museum since 2006 and this has given him the opportunity to reach an American audience, not just with his art, but his experience of Africa. He is a signature member of both Artists for Conservation and the Society of Animal Artists, from whom his work has been both awarded and accepted into national museum shows and tours. He regularly revisits Kenya where he leads expeditions for artists and groups of conservation biology students from the US. He has also regularly lectured at zoos and universities on the East Coast including Yale and George Mason, with whom he has set up research programs at a facility he helped develop at Soysambu Conservancy.
This is where he has found his niche, and the future for Guy will involve his time being spent working on artistic projects that bring awareness to international audiences, and developing his own field knowledge on the ground in Kenya in order to inform himself and the people he is so passionate about showing it to.
Achievements, Exhibitions etc.
2012 - Featured on cover of Greenwich Workshop Catalog
2012 - Featured in Wildlife Art Journal
2012 - Featured as winner in February 2012 edition of International Artist Magazine
2011 - First ever winner of International Artists Magazine Wildlife Competition.
2011 - Jurors Choice Award - Richeson 75 Wildlife Competition
2011 - Featured in Artists for Conservation Festival at Grouse Mountain, Vancouver
2011 - Became signature member of Society of Animal Artists
2010 - Included in 'Gallery of the Commons' in Wildlife Art Journal
2010 - Selected as 'Publishers Choice' in the quarterly Greenwich Workshop catalog: CLICK HERE for more details
2010 - "Leopard lounge accepted into the 50th Anniversary 'Art and the Animal' SAA show at the San Diego Museum of Natural History
2010 - Became an Associate member of The Society of Animal Artists
2009 - Exhibited at SCI Reno, Nevada
- Award of Excellence at the Artists for Conservation annual show at the Hiram Blauvelt Museum
2008 - Exhibited at SCI Reno, Nevada
- Included in Artists for Conservation annual show at the Hiram Blauvelt Museum
- Appointed at Director of US Development for Soysambu Conservancy
2007 - Exhibited at SCI Reno, Nevada
2006 - now - Artist in Residence at the Hiram Blauvelt Museum, Oradell, New Jersey, USA
2004 - Exhibition at The Rusty Nail Restaurant, Nairobi, Kenya
2002 - Exhibition at Peponi Hotel, Lamu, Kenya
1992 -1999 - Various media and design courses at Brighton Polytechnic
1991 - Interior Design Diploma, Inchbald School of Design, London, England
1989 - Art Foundation Diploma, Cheltenham Art College, England
1984 - Art Scolarship to Malvern College, Worcestershire, England
1983 - Award from the National Portraiture Foundation, England
2010 - Included in 'Gallery of the Commons' in Wildlife Art Journal
2010 - Selected as 'Publishers Choice' in the quarterly Greenwich Workshop catalog: CLICK HERE for more details
2010 - "Leopard lounge accepted into the 50th Anniversary 'Art and the Animal' SAA show at the San Diego Museum of Natural History
2010 - Became an Associate member of The Society of Animal Artists
2009 - Exhibited at SCI Reno, Nevada
- Award of Excellence at the Artists for Conservation annual show at the Hiram Blauvelt Museum
2008 - Exhibited at SCI Reno, Nevada
- Included in Artists for Conservation annual show at the Hiram Blauvelt Museum
- Appointed at Director of US Development for Soysambu Conservancy
2007 - Exhibited at SCI Reno, Nevada
2006 - now - Artist in Residence at the Hiram Blauvelt Museum, Oradell, New Jersey, USA
2004 - Exhibition at The Rusty Nail Restaurant, Nairobi, Kenya
2002 - Exhibition at Peponi Hotel, Lamu, Kenya
1992 -1999 - Various media and design courses at Brighton Polytechnic
1991 - Interior Design Diploma, Inchbald School of Design, London, England
1989 - Art Foundation Diploma, Cheltenham Art College, England
1984 - Art Scolarship to Malvern College, Worcestershire, England
1983 - Award from the National Portraiture Foundation, England