Coastal South Carolina, what once was an ocean floor millions of years ago is now sedimentary terrain teeming with fossil sites and diverse wildlife .  From beaches to estuaries, to swamps, and forests South Carolina had endless possibilities for a curious child to explore. For Haley Harris, early observations became drawings of collected fossils, shells, small invertebrates, and of larger animals found in encyclopedias. Drawing became a persistent habit that followed adolescence with an unwavering devotion for flora and fauna. After graduating from the Berkeley Center for the Arts program at Goose Greek High School, Harris pursued an Associate of Arts degree at the Trident Technical College. It was there that she was introduced to the study of natural history illustration by a biology professor who saw her work. She then began creating her own natural history illustrations of different specimens exclusively in color pencil. During the pandemic, Harris attended the College of Charleston, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree and majoring in Studio Arts. After college, she continued her education, earning certifications of Natural History Illustration and Master Herpetology.  Today, Harris works on the east coast as a wildlife painter, advocating for education and conservation.  

My name is Haley Harris and I am a wildlife artist based in Goose Creek, South Carolina. My paintings are realistically rendered scenes of animals in their natural environment meant to evoke curiosity and wonder for their lives. When I was an art student in college, I quickly became disillusioned by the experience as art purely for education's sake did not have a place to exist. This period of isolation from the atmosphere that was art academia lead to an adoption of the philosophy "Keep creating what feels right, even if no one cares at first." Eventually, I found a community of artist, naturalists, and conservationist that inspired me to teach others with my work. Ultimately, with my art, I want to get people interested in learning about animals, how they live, and how we can help them.