ABOUT AMONG THE PINES
Among the Pines is a curation of art and objects discovered on my travels, and from my time working with artists and galleries over the years. Each piece is united by a skilful and impassioned hand, with no two items the same.
I have chosen work and makers I am passionate about, whatever the medium or price, who harness creativity, design, form, colour, and function, in their many different guises. The Shop section of the gallery shows small series made specifically for Among the Pines, or wonderful objects I collect upon my travels.
My hope is for Among the Pines to be an enjoyable curation for you to discover interesting, intriguing, and desirable things; a source of art and objects that provide inspiration and make your heart skip a beat like they do mine.
MY STORY
The name Among the Pines is inspired by my childhood which was spent under the vast canopy of the Tasmanian rainforest. I came to view these ancient trees – and especially the Huon Pine - as a magical garden: dense, remote, beautiful.
It was at a young age that an talented multi-disciplinary artist moved in next door, and from our first meeting, I was transfixed: she worked with textiles, paint and ink, and had an unsurpassed eye for colour and all its subtle tones. I spent hours sitting at her feet, helping her sort hundreds of embroidery threads, fabric samples, watercolour paintings and drawings. Her house was a treasure trove of art and crafts collected from all corners of the globe, united under her enviable eye.
These early surroundings embedded two things in me; a deep love of nature and the intricacies that connect all life, and an utter appreciation for unbridled beauty and the creativity it stirs in people.
I moved to Kenya in 1998 after working in advertising in London for 2 years. East Africa was a wonderful opportunity to enter another world of creativity. It seemed everybody had something to offer. I was fortunate enough to work with many artists and makers setting up an online shop in 2000 – the early days of e-commerce, to take interesting handmade wares to wider shores.
During that time, I got stuck into many other pursuits, working with tanneries, furniture makers, textile artists and beaders, potters, welders, and jewellers.
It was after the birth of our first child, who was born unexpectedly with Downs Syndrome, that it quickly became apparent that his needs could not be met in the wilds of Kenya, so we moved to Bath, England. Here I quickly found gallery work, which opened my eyes to emerging British contemporary art, the applied arts, and modern British design.
After the birth of our second child, I was keen to somehow remain in touch and to continue learning about the inexhaustible world of art, so wrote a blog for three years to show emerging talent to a wider international audience. The natural evolution of these years is Among the Pines, the amalgam of my life and career so far.
Sophie Wood - Founder and Creative Director
Image © Sheldrick Wildlife Trust
GIVING BACK
Among the Pines is especially passionate about African wildlife conservation. One of our favourite organisations working in this field is the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust and we have chosen to play our part by adopting three orphans in their care, including Latika, a 22-month-old female elephant, Ambo, a 6-year-old male elephant, and Apollo a 2-year-old male black rhino.
Their daily Instagram stories about individuals in their huge four-legged family, bring me and my family much delight, and we are extremely appreciative that such a proactive, loving, and professionally run charity exists. The Sheldrick Wildlife Trust is one of East Africa’s oldest wildlife charities, and has successfully raised hundreds of orphan baby elephants with the ultimate goal of returning them to the wild. Donations also contribute to many more unexpected but necessary projects including reforestation, fencing to mitigate human-wildlife conflict, aerial surveillance, anti-poaching patrols, mobile veterinary units to treat injured animals in the field, and providing temporary and permanent water sources to support wildlife, especially in the dryer months. Working together, these projects have saved thousands of elephants, alongside many other African species.
To adopt an orphan or to find out how else you can offer your support, visit:
Image © Sheldrick Wildlife Trust
NEWSLETTER
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