Author

Jennifer Shakes is the first Black British animal conservation colouring pencil artist, author, and speaker in the world working at the intersection of art and wildlife conservation.

As director of Extinction Limited, she uses her art to raise awareness about endangered species and climate change. She holds a BA (Honours) in Business Studies and Law from Whitechapel University and previously worked as a desktop publisher in the banking industry.

Her wildlife portraits have been recognized by conservation organizations including Colchester Zoo, which featured her charcoal drawing of their southern white rhino (Ceratotherium simum)—a near-threatened species on the IUCN Red List—on their website. She has exhibited at Thoresby Courtyard in Nottingham, where she engaged audiences on the urgent need to address climate change and species decline.

Working primarily in colouring pencils and charcoal, Jennifer Shakes creates portraits of endangered animals to inspire action toward planetary restoration.