Behind the Sketch

For me, wildlife art has never simply been about creating a realistic portrait of an animal. It’s about telling the story behind the eyes, the scars, the silence, and the spaces these animals fight to survive in every single day.

My name is Tamaryn “Tammy” Slieker — safari guide, wildlife artist, and conservation storyteller.

I’ve spent years working in the African bush as both a field guide and safari consultant, learning not only how animals move and behave, but how deeply connected every sound, track, and interaction in nature truly is. Over time, that understanding slowly found its way into my artwork.

I specialise in charcoal wildlife sketches, focusing on monochromatic pieces that highlight emotion, texture, light, and presence. Through my art, I aim to create more than just a drawing — I want people to pause, feel something, and reconnect with the wild in a more personal way.

Many of the species I’m drawn to are the misunderstood or overlooked ones. Predators. Scavengers. Quiet survivors.

One of my recent pieces, Guarded Existence, a charcoal portrait of a brown hyena, was sold through The Fine Art Gallery Namibia to renowned brown hyena conservation researcher Emsie Verwey, whose work on Namibia’s Skeleton Coast has helped bring greater awareness to one of Africa’s most elusive carnivores.

That moment reminded me exactly why I create.

Every sketch is a conversation between art and conservation — a way of preserving emotion, raising awareness, and honouring the wildness that still exists around us.

This is where I’ll share those stories, the process behind the artwork, the inspiration from the bush, and the animals that continue to shape both my art and my life.