Art & Conservation Chairty Collaboration

Charity collaboration sets the tone for Emma Pilgrim’s story, which was partly inspired by our Explore Charity Collaborations for Community, Growth and Connection – Part 1andPart 2 features.

After returning to watercolour while caring for her young daughter, Emma’s volunteer work with Penguin Rehab and Release sparked a deeper creative connection.

Her wildlife paintings gradually became integral to the charity’s outreach, offering mutual benefit through conservation support, community engagement, and Emma’s strengthened artistic identity.

Can you share a little about your artistic background and what drew you back to painting after taking a break?

I first got into watercolour painting as a teenager. I loved the medium right away.

There’s something about the translucency and unpredictability of watercolour that I enjoy, both in the finished artwork and in the painting process.

I felt I had some natural ability, but I also knew I
had a lot of room to grow and improve my abilities.

I continued to paint occasionally when I had spare time, but once I went to university and later started my career, painting wasn’t a priority and I didn’t carve out the time for it.

I started painting more regularly again when I was a stay-at-home mum. I loved that time with my daughter, but I also wanted something that felt like an occupation beyond my role as mother.

You mentioned that you volunteer with Penguin Rehab and Release — how did this work first inspire you to pick up your brushes again?

Wildlife conservation has always been a big part of my life.

I studied biology at university, did my honours work on shorebird ecology, and later worked with Tasmanian devil conservation.

When I stepped back from part-time work because of chronic fatigue, I still wanted to stay connected to that world.

At the same time as I was finishing up work I saw a call out for new volunteers at Penguin Rehab and Release right here in Burnie.

It felt like an opportunity tailer made for me; something I could genuinely contribute to, without the pressure of paid work.

Fundraising Greeting Cards

A little while after I started, we were selecting images for our fundraising cards, but most of our penguin photos weren’t really taken with fundraising in mind, so we didn’t have many strong options.

I didn’t say anything at the time, but after that shift I went home and picked up my brushes again.

I painted two of the penguins we’d rehabilitated the year before, and it felt really natural and enjoyable.

I hadn’t painted in years and had never painted anything other than landscapes, so I wasn’t sure how it would turn out, but I was genuinely happy with the finished painting.

I was still a bit nervous when I proposed the painting as a possible card design, but I thought it was at least worth offering.

To my surprise the volunteers unanimously chose it as one of the designs.

We printed several hundred cards, and mine ended up being one of the most popular.

That experience gave me the confidence to keep painting and reminded me that my art could actually support the conservation work I care about.

How did your collaboration with Penguin Rehab and Release evolve from those early paintings into the broader partnership you’re part of now?

After that first painting was used on our fundraising cards, I gradually became the group’s ‘go-to’ artist.

It wasn’t something I set out to do, it just evolved naturally.

I was asked to help with a few practical things, like drawing handling diagrams for our bird rescue training as well as creating more penguin paintings for future card runs.

As time went on, I taught myself some basic digital design. Now I put together things like business cards, volunteer ID cards, presentations, brochures, and our penguin adoption
certificates.

Basically if something needs to be designed, I’m the one who’ll give it a go.

I just try to pitch in wherever I can — sometimes with varying degrees of success — but I enjoy being able to support the group in different ways, and it’s been really rewarding to see how my skills have become part of the organisation’s work.

What does this collaboration mean to you personally, both as an artist and as someone involved in wildlife care?

This collaboration feels very different from simply donating artwork to a charity I wasn’t involved with.

Because I’m part of almost every aspect of the work at Penguin Rehab and Release, I get to see firsthand the impact the organisation has and how fundraising money is
used.

I can see the tangible effects of my contribution in a way most artists wouldn’t be able to.

I also have the privilege of knowing the individual penguins I paint — their anatomy, their personalities, even little quirks.

That connection informs my artwork and makes it feel more meaningful.

It’s rewarding to contribute both as an artist and as someone who genuinely cares about the animals and the conservation work behind the scenes.

Do you have a favourite piece or moment from this collaboration so far — something that felt especially meaningful or affirming?

I don’t have just one piece that I’m most proud of, but if I had to pick a favourite artwork, it would be a portrait I did of a penguin named Arthur.

He was in care for a long time due to complex injuries, and it took a lot of dedication from our volunteers to get him ready to be back in the wild.

Arthur had an incredibly calm personality and was just a joy to be around — every volunteer who worked with him fell in love with him. Painting his portrait felt really
special, and it ended up being printed on our fundraising cards.

Another moment I’m especially proud of is seeing my artwork included in the Living with Little Penguins brochure, which has been distributed to over 4,000 homes in the region.

The brochure is a key tool in helping people share habitats responsibly and be good penguin neighbours. Knowing that my artwork is part of something that directly supports penguin conservation and community education has been incredibly meaningful to me.

For other artists thinking about working with a charity, what advice would you offer based on your experience?

Definitely do it. If there’s a charity that’s close to your heart and you have skills to contribute, it’s incredibly rewarding to get involved.

Smaller charities, in particular, often struggle financially, but that also means the money raised goes directly toward making a real difference as there’s very little spent on overhead or administration, so you can see the tangible impact of your work.

That said, be prepared: smaller charities often have more work than volunteers, so once you get involved, it can be hard to say no!

But for me, the experience has been overwhelmingly positive not just as an artist, but as someone who genuinely cares about the cause.

How has working with a charity influenced your creative process, themes, or the way you think about your art more generally?

Before I painted that first pair of penguins, I hadn’t really painted birds, wildlife, or animals at all.

My earlier work was mostly watercolours of landscapes and buildings.

Once I started painting animals, I discovered it’s really my artistic passion.

There’s nothing I enjoy more than capturing the personality and details of the creatures I paint, and the more animals I paint, the more I enjoy it.

Working with Penguin Rehab and Release has also given me the confidence to share my artwork beyond my family.

The positive feedback I received when I shared my penguin
paintings has been incredibly encouraging and has helped me feel more confident in my identity as an artist.

What impact do you hope your artwork will have — on the charity, on the animals you support, and on the people who see or purchase your pieces?

I hope my artwork helps Penguin Rehab and Release remain financially able to continue their work.

The team does such important work, and it’s hard enough physically rehabilitating penguins without the constant pressure of fundraising at the same time.

I also hope my art helps people connect with the penguins that live near us.

If more people appreciate and value these animals, hopefully fewer penguins will need to come into care in
the first place.

If my paintings can highlight the beauty of these penguins and inspire that connection, I would consider that a real success.

Your story relates beautifully to the ideas in Explore Charity Collaborations for Community, Growth and Connection – Part 1. How has learning about other
artists’ experiences helped guide or encourage your own journey?

I’ve found it really encouraging to see this supportive community of artists.

I still sometimes hesitate to call myself an artist, especially since I don’t often sell my originals, and I can feel
like an imposter at times.

Reading about other artists’ experiences with charity collaborations made me realise that this is exactly what I’ve been doing for years — contributing my art in
meaningful ways.

It helped me see myself differently and feel more confident in my identity as an artist.

About the Artist

Emma Pilgrim is a watercolour artist based in Burnie, Tasmania.

Emma has a love for wildlife and wild places and her work focuses on capturing the beauty around her.

Follow Emma on Facebook and shop her beautiful artwork across a range of delightful products on Redbubble.

Read Emma’s Artist Profile Story here.