Ancient Wanderer: Where Art Meets Pangolin Conservation
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Temps de lecture 3 min
Most people wouldn’t recognise a pangolin if they saw one, and yet it is the most trafficked mammal in the world.
Covered in keratin scales, it relies on one main defence: it curls tightly into a ball. It protects it from natural predators, but it also makes it extremely vulnerable to humans.
That contradiction sits behind Ancient Wanderer.
The painting is built around the curled form of the pangolin itself. Its body draws into a tight spiral, with overlapping scales carrying the entire composition. They create movement, rhythm and structure across the surface, shifting through ochres, browns, greys and warmer tones that bring depth into the piece.
The eye remains visible within it all, holding your attention at the centre. Even in this protective posture, there is still a strong sense of presence.
From Painting to Silk and Print
Ancient Wanderer did not stop at the painting.
It now exists as silk scarves, in both a classic square and a silk oblong, and as fine art prints in multiple sizes. Each one carries the composition directly from the original work.
The scarves are produced in 100% silk twill, chosen for its depth, structure and ability to hold detail. As a luxury material, silk twill allows the scales, tonal shifts and layering of the painting to remain sharply defined, while still moving fluidly when worn.
The composition shifts subtly across formats. The classic square holds the spiral tightly in place, keeping the structure centred and contained. The silk oblong allows the form to extend, changing how the piece sits and moves on the body.
On silk, the piece moves. It’s soft to the touch, the colours catch the light, and the composition shifts naturally as it’s worn, turning it into a one-of-a-kind statement piece while still holding the detail and structure of the original painting. Visit Store
The prints offer a different relationship to the work. They allow the painting to sit within a space at a chosen scale, holding the same depth, composition and integrity of the original in a fine art format. They make it possible to live with the work in a way that is both considered and accessible.
These are not separate products, but different ways of experiencing the same piece.
“A work of art does not end at the canvas.”
Working with PCRF
Alongside this work, I collaborate with the Pangolin Conservation & Research Foundation (PCRF), a Namibia-based organisation dedicated to protecting pangolins through protection, research and rewilding.
Their work operates across multiple levels. They rescue and rehabilitate pangolins affected by trafficking, monitor them after release, and carry out applied research to better understand how pangolins interact with their ecosystems. This research directly informs conservation planning, policy, and on-the-ground protection efforts.
A central part of their approach is community engagement. PCRF works within regions where trafficking is most prevalent, supporting local communities through training, employment, and education. Their Pangolin Guardians and community programmes are designed to protect biodiversity while creating long-term, sustainable impact.
The results of this work are tangible. Pangolins that arrive in critical condition are rehabilitated and released back into the wild, with survival rates increasing significantly through ongoing monitoring.
At the same time, awareness is built at a local level. During recent outreach in Namibia around World Pangolin Day, PCRF worked with more than 200 school children, introducing them to pangolins through storytelling, hands-on activities, and conservation education. Many left as “Pangolin Protectors”, carrying that awareness forward into their communities.
This work is continuous, practical, and grounded in both science and people. Learn more
A Direct Contribution
30% of all proceeds from Ancient Wanderer — across the original painting, silk scarves, and fine art prints — go directly towards supporting PCRF and their ongoing conservation work.
This piece exists beyond the canvas. It contributes to the protection of the species it represents, supporting the work of those directly involved in their survival. Visit store
Ancient Wanderer exists beyond the canvas. Across silk, print and the original work, it holds its form and presence while contributing directly to pangolin conservation. It is both a work of art and a means of supporting the survival of the species it depicts.
Ancient Wanderer in Silk Twill
“Pangolins are very important in the whole ecosystem… If you lose pangolins you upset all sorts of things, but the sheer humanity of not looking after such a beautiful, gentle animal as a pangolin breaks my heart.”
The Artist: Josie Ryan
Josie Ryan is an Irish wildlife artist based in Brussels. Her work focuses on close-up animal portraits, shaped by her background in wildlife veterinary medicine and conservation across Africa. She works closely with conservation organisations, using her work to support and bring attention to endangered species.
