Born in Durban, South Africa, Noel is a self taught wildlife artist. Noel's passion for art started at an early age painting birds in Guache and progressed in his late teens to the use of oils with the start of landscape wildlife.

At present Noel is a part time artist travelling into the wild whenever possible with regular trips to Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe and Zambia for wildlife inspiration. It is still possible in some of these remote areas to sit and sketch Buffalo and Elephant with no fences and to sleep as he does in a see through shade cloth tent where you can watch Ele’s, Lions and all sorts walk around the tent at night.

Noel’s passion for wildlife and conservation is a driving force and his long term ambition is to dedicate his full time efforts to wildlife art and conservation, hopefully in the not too distant future. Noel is also a keen wildlife photographer and birdwatcher.

Various works have been sold to admirers in South Africa and the U.K.

A Limited edition of signed Girclee prints on canvas are available at Mfuwe Lodge of the painting "Ele's and Friends, Mfuwe Lodge". The proceeds from these sales have been pledged to the South Luangwa Conservation Society.

 

Noel has been invited to exhibit amongst South Africa's top wildlife artists in the annual Wildlands Conservation Trust fund raising exhibition again for the third year in a row.

Noel's focus has been on creating a paintings to help and highlight the plight of Hwange and all of Zimbabwe's wilderness and its endangered wildlife following recent trips for material and inspiration in the Hwange National Park in Zimbabwe. A long time favourite of Noel's since his childhood where many school holidays were spent thanks to friends and relatives working in the park, where he had the opportunity to appreciate wilderness behind the scenes.

His latest painting "Hunter Hunted" is based on the Elephant hunting pride of Lions based around the Hide Camp in the south of Hwange and witnessed on his last trip in 2009.

Due to the present political situation in Zimbabwe and the lack of Government funding and Tourist support the plight of Hwange is in dire straits and needs all the aid possible.

Part of the proceeds from the recent sale of the "Painted Dog" an African Wild Dog painting, have been donated to the David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation - Alive Painted Dog Project. For more information on the DSWF please view: http://www.davidshepherd.org/help/painteddog/

Noel is also a proud supporter and friend of the Zambezi Safari & Travel Company also very active in the support of Zimbabwe tourism and conservation.

Noel returned from a life changing experience in India in 2010. Absolutely fantastic and truly blessed to have, amongst all the magnificent history and culture, spent an hour and a half photographing a magnificent tiger in Ranthambore National Park. A truly emotional experience never to be forgotten. Noel's latest painting.- This painting has been shortlisted and selected for the David Shepherd Wildlife Artist of the Year 2011 exhibition at The Mall Galleries, London between 6th – 11th June 2011.