Hello! I’m Safia.

I am a watercolour artist specialising in natural history illustrations.

Growing up in the sub-tropical paradise of Bellingen on the East Coast of Australia—a wonderland of rivers, oceans, and rainforests! —I developed a love for plants and animals from an early age. There is nothing I enjoy more than an orchid hunt, butterfly chase, rock pool wade or beach comb while photographing and documenting everything I see for later reference.

With a Bachelor of Science degree and a career in marine sciences and wildlife conservation, my artistic style explores a blend of scientific illustration and nature journaling, inspired by found natural specimens and hours spent observing in the field.

My motto, “If you see something, look closer,” encourages curious observation, and this is reflected in my artworks that detail often overlooked plant, animal, and insect species and the intricate relationships they share.

I believe in forming non-extractive connections with nature, where our innate desire to experience the wild environment also brings a responsibility to protect it.

By showcasing species through my art, I aim to make them visible and inspire others to observe, connect with, and protect them and their ecosystems.

I create most of my work on Gumbaynggirr Country and pay my deep respects to the traditional custodians of this land, and their elders past present and emerging.