Welcome, thank you so much for visiting my site.  Can I introduce you to a small Zoo in the south of Spain.   This zoo was privately set up as a rescue sanctuary in 1998 for animals that had been confiscated by customs and police from illegal trade between Africa and Europe.     Due to the ever increasing numbers of wildlife that needed sanctuary, food and care, the rescue centre was opened to the public in 2002.       It was also hoped that by having visitors, especially children, people could be made more aware of the plight of animals, birds and reptiles that are caught up in illegal trade.      The lucky residents of this zoo have a place to live and be cared for by loving staff including a vet and wonderful volunteers.  

To sit sketching in the shade of the abundantly leafed trees, surrounded by animal and bird jungle noise, is the best thing. Then it gets better, when I’m invited to bottle feed a baby monkey, or meet a young lion face to face.   Later a picnic lunch with the staff and volunteers, then an afternoon looking for good reference photos, which means marvelling at the movements and characteristics of beautiful creatures. The experience of a day spent at Zoo Castellar de la Frontera in the province of Cadiz, is one I will never tire of.  I do hope that you can feel some of the joy from my paintings.

20% of the profit from my wildlife prints will help towards the care of the animals I paint. 

Born in Sussex, England, in the late 1940’s, I studied fashion at Brighton College of Art and worked in the fashion industry for twenty five years, before becoming a portrait sculptor and painter. 

* Pre-Visualization, Concept Art and Storyboarding. “Gina’s skillsets in portraiture and fashion design were invaluable in creating a TV pitch “Look Book”. From reference photos and a few conversations, Gina was able to provide character designs capturing not only the intended actors essence but the tone of the pitch ”                                                                                             *Simon Jayes, Wandering Wheelbarrow LCC, Los Angeles.