Highlights from the past years during my ARTivism journey.
Very thankful for the interest in my work.
Also have a look at Features and Endoresement.
Here it is:
... Green and Blue, Planet Ocean Me and You!
A book about colours and the human impact on our planet
There are so many emotions in this one, Its hard to describe it.
First of all, after publishing my last book Diamonds Hearts and Sea Stars I knew I wanted to write a book about colours connected to ecosystems.
My famous Mangrove illustration gave me the idea to write about blue carbon… and the importance of our ocean when it comes to climate change…and ideas kept coming and going but I couldn’t nail it down…. it just didn’t flow.
So I let it go for a while. I put in in the back of my mind and made notes whenever something came up.
Since 2019 I got invited to speak to schools about environmental issues. One school in particular, the British school of Paris kept inviting me back several times a year. Often we talked about plastic pollution and biodiversity loss but more often it switched to other issues, like global warming and climate change. I use my books as a tool to teach when I’m invited as a guest speaker, but with climate change that wasn’t possible because I didn’t have a book. So I started to prepare presentations on these issues… but then year 6 inspired me on our ARTivism workshop and I knew what I had to do!
Suddenly for each colour I had a clear vision and I knew how to put it all together to put children on a journey to learn about climate change and not forget the importance of our ocean.
In the summer it all went on paper, it took about 2 weeks and it was done! Then another 6 months to edit it, change it and add all the illustrations. Huge thank you to my family (esp. Will, Andrew & Ginny) who must be exhausted from all the proof reading. As well as some of my close friends :) soooo appreciated. 💙✨
I can’t wait to show the children! The book will come out January 31, 2024 and is currently on preorder :) Will share the link soon. So glad it’s done! I hope the children will like it! I hope it will help them to make a difference.
#nevergiveup #artivism #blueandgreen #greenandblue #planetoceanmeandyou #planetocean #oceanart #bluecarbon
Proud to announce this amazing collaboration with Change Now World 2024!!!
Here’s the official poster for ChangeNOW Summit 2024!
I am so so sooo over the moon! I don’t think this description quite measures up to the excitement and joy I feel at having been invited to design the official Change Now poster for the 2024 summit!
It’s hard to describe what this means to me! The poster says step into a sustainable world and the first time I stepped my foot🦶into Change Now was 2020, thanks to my friends Anna Mäusbacher, who invited me to come along. I immediately fell in love with the mission, the summit and the team! Who are amazing, I also saw a lot of art at the summit and it was only a dream to maybe once exhibit with Change Now. A dream that came true in 2022, thanks to my friend Nico from Waves of Change , who recommended my work. Being a speaker on the panel building a culture for change meant a lot to me as the #schoolartivism is really a heart project. So Change Now as had a huge impact on me and my work and I couldn’t be prouder! Feeling so thankful!
The poster will be all over Paris, in metros, on their website and of course at the Grand Palais Éphémère! Pinch me ! 😅
So excited I can finally share these exciting news with you and it gets even better! Stay tuned !
Coral Kelp & Community Podcast
Sharing ocean stories to inspire ocean stewards.
Thank you so much for inviting me to your podcast! If you want to listen to a casual chat about Art & ARTivism - click on the link :
Window #2 for the advent calendar organised by Les Cercles is designed by me 💙🙏✨🌟
My Christmas tree out of the 11 most Endangered Species in the Ocean in 2022. (According to an article on earth.org)
1. Vaquita
2. North Atlantic Right Whale
3. Yangtze Finless Porpoise
4. Hawaiian Monk Seal
5. Hawksbill Turtles and Kemp’s Ridley Turtles
6. Giant Manta Ray
7. Whale Shark
8. Northern Fur Seal
9. Southern Bluefin Tuna
10. Dugong
11. Coral Reefs
#adventcalendar #30by30 #artivism #biodiversity
#activism #unbiodiversity #ForNature #GlobalGoals
#sustainable #sustainableliving #earth #plasticnotfantastic #oceaneducation #oceanartist #janinarossiter #oceanartist #oceanartivist #marineart
#savetheplanet #pollution #sustainability #noplastic
The Sketch for Survival Exhibition by Explorers Against Extinction was once again at the OXO TOWER WHARF Gallery in London. So proud that my Vaquita was part of it.
I was lucky enough to attend the opening in person and was overwhelmed by the many beautiful works of art, all of which were donated to this good cause.
#vaquita #sketchforsurvival #sketch #explorersagainstextinction #vaquitadrawing #thelastvaquita #oceanartist #artforearth #illustration #ink #activist #artmakesadifference #oceanart #wildlifeartivism #artivist #artivism #oceanart #onlyoneambassador
Huge thank you to those who made our Art & Climate festival - such a success!
Was great working with the kids and doing the workshops. They were super motivated and love all their pledges!
Special thank you to @marie_lebec and her team for stopping by. We did a collaboration at the beginning of the year so was super nice to reconnect.
Carrieres transition ecolo 🙏💙 Thank you for this beautiful collaboration
Festival Art & Climat
- séance de lecture du livre de Janina Rossiter :
1 2 3 Who’s Cleaning the Sea ?
Merci à l’association des Carrillons
pour la Transition Ecologique et un grand merci à Natalie Lao pour la réalisation de cette vidéo. Vidéo complète du festival est disponible sur YouTube.
Festival Art & Climat
L’association des Carrillons pour la Transition Écologique
#artforearth #illustration #ink #fluidart #activist #artmakesadifference #oceanart #wildlifeartivism #artivist #artivism #oceanart #virtualgallery #30x30 #30x30onlyone #onlyoneambassador
#education #ocean #drawyourocean #protectouroceans #oceanlovers #artactivism #protectwhatkeepsyoualive #protectwhatyoulove #oceanartivist #oceanartivism
My drawing of ‘the last Vaquita’ made it into the top 100 finalist
Selection of the #sketchforsurvival wildlife competition by @explorersagainstextinction !
So so so excited about it. This year there is no invitational collection and only the finalists will be exhibited at The Dundas Street Gallery in Edinburgh and gallery @oxo on London's South Bank. So excited to be part of it with so many other talented artists. Congratulations to all! Can’t wait to see you in London soon!
Yesterday has been a day with so many amazing surprises and it came exactly at the right time. so thankful!
Next to the jury voted awards there’s also a People's Choice Award - this is voted for by the public - all 115 artworks are included. Please vote for your favourite / scroll down to the bottom of the page type in your name & email address and click on the artwork you want to vote for -> here
And SFS Wildlife 100 Artist of the Year & SFS Wild Spaces Artist of the Year - the selection panel will announce their shortlist for these awards in October at a special preview exhibition in Norwich.
Fingers crossed 🤞
#sketch #explorersagainstextinction #vaquitadrawing #thelastvaquita
Did you see our version of SHARK WEEK?!
Today is Day 3 of our Shark Safari: A Fin-Tastic Week of Conservation Readings!
Shark Guardian Director Liz Ward-Sing had a chat with the fabulous artist and author @janinarossiter about sharks, plastic pollution, the use of art to raise awareness about gloabl issues and the importance of encouraging environmental stewardship in children and teenagers today.
Nina's commitment to the environment is evident in her art and writing. Driven by her passion for fighting climate change, protecting nature, and preserving the oceans from plastic and pollutants, she channels her concerns into her literary works. Her profound love for the natural world inspired the creation of two of her beautiful books: "Diamonds, Hearts & Sea Stars!" and "123 Who's Cleaning the Sea?"
What a great conversation to have on World Nature Conservation Day 💙
Watch the full Youtube video - click on the link below
Extremely thankful, proud and excited about this joint feature with ARTivist Janet Ormond in the latest Ezdive magazine.
Highlighting Artivism and how important it is to protect our planet! Very thankful that besides amazing divers and photographers Artivism has gotten such a prominent article! It means the world to us artists! Thank you!!!
Thankful 💙
#france30x30
Absolutely over the moon to be an Only One ambassador!
A few months in the making and really exciting to be in the only one family - I’m fighting for our oceans and raising awareness through #artivism
In the coming months I will especially share artwork to push the #30x30 protect 30% of our oceans by 2030 France 🇫🇷 campaign by Ocean & Climate Platform & Only One in the hope to push the petition over 60.000 signatures!
We are asking to call on France to strengthen the protection of its marine protected areas!
While France is lauded on the international stage as an ocean and climate leader, the truth is disheartening. Their claim of protecting 33% of its waters falls shockingly short of reality – most of these so-called “protected” areas permit destructive practices, like industrial fishing and sand extraction, which cause irreparable harm to the surrounding environment. In fact, 91% of “protected” waters in metropolitan France are considered unregulated and unprotected by scientists.
Will you help me? 🙏 Let’s do it! 🙌 I believe it’s possible. 🌊
Sign the petition here!
More exciting news for the project Oceanic 31 by The Shark Trust
EXHIBITION LAUNCH
Trebah Gardens - 21th June - 15th July 2023
For the first time as a complete 31-piece collection showing at Trebah Gardens Trebah Garden (near Falmouth). Livestreaming, from Trebah, a virtual launch event on Friday 23rd June at 7pm.
After this - the virtual 360° exhibition will go live, so you can view the exhibition from anywhere in the world! The full 31-piece exhibition will go on tour and be shown to the world!
Below: My final artwork for #Oceanic31 #BigeyeThresher ! #artivism
Entirely grateful to be part of such an important project to highlight the beauty of sharks and the importance to protect these beautiful species! Thank you Conor John , Paul Cox, Mark Packer & the rest of the team for putting such an amazing project together and giving artist a voice to protect our endangered wildlife!
#oceanic31 #sharkart
I entered my artwork to the Art At Climate 2030 competiton and over the moon that all of my four artworks got selected to be in the voting finals.
Four of my artworks are in the @artatclimate2030 competition!
Would love if you vote for me!
You need to create an account to vote. But appreciate the time ✨💙🌿
Vote here!
#artatclimate2030 #artatclimate
Very thankful about this new publication about my work on the BetterOceans website. Here is the full article (In German):
https://lnkd.in/em8MKdfT
I was very lucky to meet Maike Grützediek and Lutz Carstens at the boot Düsseldorf GERMANY in person. Both have an incredible work history and have met very inspiring ocean heroes. They are currently building a new network of ocean change makers, with important information about our oceans as well as great resources. Please have a look at their page and recent posts. Its fantastic work.
check it out: better-oceans.com
Very thankful to be part of the 'Heroes of the Sea' under the category children's books!
I can highly recommend to watch the documentary with its eyeopening facts:
https://vimeo.com/ondemand/heroesofthesea
York Hovest:
As an investigative photographer, I travel the world in search of the most urgent current issues affecting the survival of our world's ecosystems as well as its cultural heritage. Each of my projects ventures into the most dangerous, out-of-sight places on Earth in order to reveal to the whole world what it cannot afford to ignore. The overarching goal is to raise awareness and provide critical insight into topics that ultimately concern everyone.
Very proud to be included in the network of very inspiring change makers.
When I received this e-mail last year 'Artivist For The Oceans has been accepted to be included in the Congress Program!' - I couldn't believe it. 'IMPAC5 received more than 700 proposals from 66 countries around the globe!' Immensely proud that my application got selected and I am presenting at IMPAC5.
3-9 FEB 2023 - the world’s top ocean conservation leaders and professionals will meet at the Fifth International Marine Protected Areas Congress (IMPAC5) in Vancouver, Canada to chart a course towards protecting 30% of the ocean by 2030. #30x30
Thank you for giving me this opportunity. Really looking forward to be part of IMPAC5.
Super excited, happy and so proud to be joining the The Explorers Club as a member.
Huge thank you to my sponsors for believing in my and the immense support. Very grateful.
Founded in 1904 to promote exploration “by all means possible,” The Explorers Club is an international not-for-profit organization dedicated to the advancement of field research, scientific exploration, and the ideal that it is vital to preserve the instinct to explore. Our membership is made up of over 3,500 scientists and explorers, across 34 global chapters. Our members are leading pioneers in oceanography, mountaineering, archaeology, and the planetary and environmental sciences. Collectively, they complete over 600 expeditions annually - on every continent and in every ocean, working in over 60 countries and outer space.
Very proud that I was asked to design the New Years card for Marie Lebec, députée des Yvelines. @marie_lebec @marielebec2022
I wanted to connect a modern version of Marianne with elements of strength to represent the interconnection between nature, la France and to highlight the meaning of each element.
Oak tree / French flag / Marianne
I was very happy to be selected as protecting sharks is a big part of my #artivism work.
‘Bringing together 31 artists from all over the world. Each artist has generously donated the pieces to the project. And each #Oceanic31 piece focuses on an oceanic species of shark or ray. The pieces will go on tour around the UK in 2023/24, with limited edition prints of some pieces available to purchase next year. Finally, after touring the UK, the pieces will be auctioned and raffled off to raise vital funds to help our conservation work as part of the #BigSharkPledge. And finally, a book featuring the pieces and artwork is planned for release in 2025.’ For more information head over to @thesharktrust
Super excited that I will be exhibiting with POLITICO at their Sustainable Future Week from November 29th to December 1st 2022 in Brussels | Belgium.
Al Gore, alongside others will be holding the opening speech and many other inspiring speakers will be at the summit!
Taking place in Brussels and online, this sustainability journey will delve into the solutions to the EU’s most pressing issues while the European Commission is entering the last phase of its mandate.
Super excited that my #ARTivism work got selected to be exhibited during the summit! Highlighting the issues with #plasticpollution and the importance of our ocean!
Artivism pieces: ‘CLIMATE STRIKES’
I donating this piece to Explorers Against Extinction for the #sketchforsurvival invitation collection this year. (01/01)
I wanted to give a piece with a message and biodiversity loss is the reason I wrote my second ocean book. So it’s a subject I’m passionate about. #extinctionisforever
Climate Stripes - Climate strikes
climate change is one of the main drivers of biodiversity loss
All things are connected. Destroyed buildings can be rebuilt; destroyed works of art may possibly be replaced by new creations; but every animal and every flower which becomes extinct is lost forever in the most absolute of all deaths. In the end, we will conserve only what we love.
-Joseph Wood Krutch
#6thmassextinction
#artforearth #illustration #ink #fluidart #activist #artmakesadifference #oceanart
#artivist #education #ocean #drawyourocean #protectouroceans #oceanlovers #plasticpollutes #jellyfishwithplasticbags #saveouroceans #artactivism #protectwhatkeepsyoualive #circular #protectwhatyoulove
I have been working on this really cool project with a gallery in Holland called #ARTivist Artivist.nl - Niels van Weerdenburg - Good match for an artivist, don’t you think 😜 and together we created this AR (augmented reality) artwork.
‘Female Ocean’
A picture can say a thousand words but sometimes I wish I could say a little bit more about my work. The thoughts behind it, the mission and what it’s suppose to raise awareness for.
A friend recently just told me, that when they saw my artivism series ‘warming poles’, in the gallery it was hard to really understand the message behind it. It’s true, not all the galleries can explain and guide the viewer when looking at an artwork.
Well with the ‘artivive’ app Artivive you can just scan the artwork and the artwork will come to life! It’s quite an experience and that’s not all! We’ve got more coming! This artwork is currently playing in the Amsterdam metro, watch until the end 😱. Plus one more coming. Stay tuned. I am excited. Thank you Artivist.nl for making this happen. It’s a dream. 💙🙏🌊
If you want to try it:
Download the app Artivive and put it over my artwork ‘female ocean’ and the artwork will become alive. - limited edition artwork in A2 will soon be available at the gallery.
Extremely honoured having been contacted by Stephanie Johnstone, Founder of A Million Voices to tell my story.
Whenever I have been asked in the past to tell my story I have always started with the day at the Paris Aquarium, that day changed everything.
But my journey started many years before that. It has been moulded by the slow realisation that the system which I trusted so readily is broken. And I am not referring to governments or social justice, but rather to brands and corporate responsibility. Brands which we trusted and would come across in every walk of life. We all have our favourite products, brought to us by well-known global brands. They are part of our childhood memories – we trust them. This feeling of familiarity with these brands that made me – maybe made us all – assume that they were good for us and therefore our planet....
To read more click the link...
A volunteer based project I recently created for the Jane Goodall Institute India.
Just a few weeks before I went to the Cité de l'Océan and watched a 12min diving video in 360°, which was supported by Dr. Jane Goodall. These virtual experiences are so cool and made me feel connected to the ocean. As much as that is possible virtually.
It was amazing seeing Dr. Jane Goodall supporting an ocean project at the Cité de l’Ocean. So I was delighted when the Jane Goodall Institute India contacted me.
The designs idea merges two worlds together that depend on each other!
I proposed this design Idea to the Jane Goodall Institute India. Based on my fan art I did a few years before to celebrate my heroes.
Due to missing fonds the project wasn't able to go ahead and my volunteer work stopped there. I am still very proud the Jane Goodall Institute India contacted me and the collaboration proposal sounded very promising. So hopefully once they have more support we can continue this collaboration.
I wanted to share the process. Hope you like it.
Plastic Free July is a global initiative that encourages individuals to become more aware of just how much single use plastic they're using – and how they can reduce it.
It was a real pleasure to do an Instagram take over on Footprint Foundation.
I shared some of my artwork that I created over the years to fight single use plastic and for plastic free July that’s perfect timing! Also dumped fishing nets is one of the biggest polluter in our oceans! Eating less fish should be discussed when speaking about ocean plastics! Synthetic fibres! Support organisation like Oceanic Preservation Society and Fish Free February - one of my favourite initiatives. Cause it’s a great way to get into eating less fish.
Thank you Christine Figgener for having me as your guest!
Conference in July to celebrate the bicentennial of Martin's Act. Adding some further colour to our conference!
Please browse through the work of these inspiring artists & ‘artivists’ who have been using their art to raise awareness and/or fundraise for animal charities.
More than honoured that I'm one of the Artivist who are being featured on the website:
Very proud to be an official commercial supporter for The Manta Trust with my Eagle Ray and Manta Ray designs! 🌊🙏✨💙
Designs:
Eagle Ray Bikini:
Eagle Ray Print:
Manta Ray Bikini
Manta Ray Print:
So proud that my artwork was part of the Ocean Culture Life world ocean week celebrations.
I especially loved the education kit for the school workshops, created by Tamsin Raine
The support of Tamsin Raine and Matt Porteous over the past two years has really been amazing and proud to be an Ocean Culture Life guardian.
Waves of Change mission: Adapting together requires a new collaborative approach within and outside organisations. Our mission is to provide a safe and fertile space for eco-systemic, shared value creation* among like-minded stakeholders of the environmental transition both locally and internationally.
This implies a new collaborative mindset to be introduced, understood and practiced among all of them. With Waves of Change we aim to offer a unique opportunity for Basque and international startups, corporations, NGOs, investors, universities, and public sector organisations to spend productive and serene time together as a fertile ground for long-term collaboration.
We grouped up at the Waves of Change Forum and did a poetry slam. 30 minutes to come up with a story. It was fun!
The Explorers Club. Extremely proud that my artwork was exhibited at the Explorers Club Headquarter during World Oceans Week in New York, USA
I donated a limited edition fine art print to the Ocean Auction to raise money to protect our oceans. You can see the auction here but it's now closed.
"Introducing the first-ever World Oceans Week auction! From gorgeous aquatic art to exclusive experiences with world-renowned explorers, you won't be able to find these items anywhere else but here at The Explorers Club. Take a look, be inspired, and help us get a jump-start on our WOW fundraising - The auction raised $33,755".
Sometimes it takes 40 years or more 😅 to do what you really love doing but when you are there you know why and it’s so fulfilling. The past days have been a dream come true and the best gift ever! Eternally thankful!
This is my journey and thank you to everyone who has supported, encouraged me or just been there as a friend with an open👂
And if you want to watch our interview - you can find it on YouTube - change now -LIVE TV - 21 MAY at 4.23 - moderated by Laura-Jane Gautier or click the link
'The battle of ideas is won when information becomes culture. A shift happens from raising awareness to integration of issues and solutions into mainstream culture. Storytelling is at the heart of this shift. And all cultural channels, from audio-visual to music and advertising, play a part. Let’s meet some of the players using pop culture to create an ecologically and socially inclusive world!'
Pannel: Marie Sabot, We Love Green
Marten Persiel, Everything Will Change
Poppy Mason-Watts, Waterbear Network
Janina Rossiter, Artivist
moderated by Laura-Jane Gautier
Click the link to watch the full session.
One of my biggest dreams is coming true! I’m exhibiting with Change Now at the Le Grand Palais Éphémère during the #changenowsummit2022 in Paris. Curated by Ronan de la Croix
Probably the best event for the planet I’ve ever been to (in 2020) and since then a dream to be part of it! So thankful it’s coming true. Huge thank you to Nico Occhiminuti, Garance Aulagne and Audrey Richard-Laurent for your support!
Im deeply thankful and so excited that I’ll be able showing artwork from my book #123whoscleaningthesea which raised awareness of plastic pollution! I literally can’t wait!
ART FOR CHANGE
Sketch for Survival goes in its next round. This year I'm going to be featured in their invitational collection and they featured my work in their newsletter. Very thankful for that.
If you are an artist and would like to participate.
Extremely proud to be listed as one of the ARTivist on the Oceanic Global website.
'Janina Rossiter (Nina Rossiter) is an Artist, Author, and Artivist focussing on environmental issues. As an award-winning artist and bestselling, multi-award-winning author, Nina bridges her passions through her work in painting and illustrating children’s books.
Nina is also passionate about fighting climate change, protecting nature, and keeping the oceans free from plastic and pollutants. Her concerns for our environment are what inspired her to write “Diamonds, Hearts & Sea Stars!” and “123 Who’s Cleaning the Sea?”.'
"5. WHAT IS THE ONE TAKEAWAY MESSAGE YOU WOULD LIKE AUDIENCES TO LEAVE WITH AFTER VIEWING ANY OF YOUR WORK?
We can all change the world and our actions do matter. Even if the reality is that it is big companies and governments that need to lead the change, they are driven by demand, consumer preferences, and trends. Any individual can provoke change. We need to be informed and educated so that we can make the right choices, buy the right products, and vote for the right governments. Don’t let anyone hold you back and make sure you follow your passion. ...
Very thankful having been invited for an Instagram live.
"(Re)watch our inspiring chat with Artivist (Artist + Activist) @janinarossiter for our Earth Day Week Q&A series
Nina told us how she uses art to educate and activate people to help our planet, how she wishes that everyone would take a step back and see the mess we are in. Consuming less and putting our health and the health of our planet first is the change she would like to see."
The town Chatou highlighted my work for international womens day. Very honored.
𝟴 𝗠𝗔𝗥𝗦 | JOURNÉE INTERNATIONALE POUR LES DROITS DES FEMMES
L'occasion pour la Ville de Chatou de lancer une opération qui a pour but de mettre en avant les actions particulières de catoviennes.
Pour ouvrir la marche 3 femmes engagées dans des causes différentes seront présentées au fil de la journée. Janina Rossiter est née et a grandi en Allemagne. Cette illustratrice de talent vit et exerce à Chatou depuis 9 ans où elle s'est installée avec son mari et ses deux petites filles. Elle met son art au service de la défense de l'environnement, et en particulier celui de la protection des océans. Par sa peinture lumineuse et ses dessins méticuleux inspirés par l'eau, Janina sensibilise son public, adultes et enfants, aux problèmes grandissants de la pollution par le plastique -qui libère des produits chimiques tels que les perturbateurs endocriniens (EDC)- et son impact sur les écosystèmes marins et les Hommes dont les femmes et les enfants sont les premières victimes. Son tableau Mangrove, peint à Chatou, était à l’honneur dans l’espace VIP de la Conférence internationale COP26 qui s’est tenue à Glasgow (Écosse), du 31 octobre au 12 novembre 2021.
"To advance a vote to end the shark fin trade, the European Citizens' Initiative must receive one million votes from across the EU by January 31, 2022"
And on January 18 2022 we made it! We hit the 1 million votes!
Very proud to be part of this amazing team and to be able to help with my artwork.
EU Citizens voted for a #FinBanNow in Europe!
Yes yes yes yes we made it!
Let’s take a second to celebrate!
Everyone has been absolutely fantastic! Sharing & signing!
Huge thank you!
"Tausend Dank an @janinarossiter, die zusammen mit über einer Million (!) Menschen und mir bei @stopfinningeu mitgemacht hat. Heute hat sie mir frisch aus Paris ein Original "unseres" Kampagnen-Motives gesendet (in der Brille: das Blut der Haie, deren Flossen abgeschnitten werden) 🦈 Danke und bitte stimmt noch mit ab gegen das hirnverbrannte Schlachten → https://www.stop-finning-eu.org ✍🏻 Herzlich Euer: Marky Mark @stopfinningde"
Here’s a little video I recorded to support #fishfreefebruary as I think it’s a fantastic opportunity to get into eating less fish! To be more aware of what type of fish we are eating and where our fish is actually coming from!
I wanted to tell you my journey, I have been completely fish free since last February! A lot of things happened at once, which made my decision final. It started by taking the challenge to stay fish free for a whole month, I listed to a lot of speakers that talked about the overfishing issue and the state of our oceans, read books (end of the line, the outlaw ocean) and finally the documentary “the game changers” made my decision final. The best way for me to protect our sea creatures is not to eat them. Also as a mum of two girls I worry about the (micro) plastic pollution - and mercury issue that we intake by eating sea food. Plastic leach chemicals such as endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) that can cause cancer, diabetes, reproductive disorders, and neurological damage in fetuses and children. Mercury poison can be linked to eating too much seafood and can cause various health issues. I find this very alarming!
I am a Fish Free February Ambassador.
Very thankful having been interviewed by artistcloseup!
“My work is very impulsive. An emotion or a feeling that I have to express due to a situation I experienced, an event that happened, or something I read about. I have an overall plan for what direction my work is going but most of my artwork is a reaction.”
“My books and artworks are the core of all my work. That’s how it started. This is where my mission is. To raise awareness of environmental issues that are important to highlight.
I think it often has to do with how we are raised and what we learn in school. The Ocean and how to protect the world’s resources is not part of our school curriculum, but I think they should be. That’s one of the main reasons why I go to schools and give talks. I hope I can inspire the children to create artworks and to set them on a little journey. A journey that helps to discover the problems of our planet and that can create change for a better future.”
Sustainable Development Film Week from January 18 to 24, 2022. Camille Etienne will be the guest of honor & speaker of this new edition.
I already had the pleasure to connect to Camille over the Shark Finning EU campaign so it was great to meet her in person. Her film was very moving and is powerful. I recommend to take 15min and to watch it. Watch her short film here.
More infos about her work or to follow her here.
I also joined Camille Etienne #defendthedeep #lookdown and created several visuals to raise awareness. Wednesday the 9th of February for the One Ocean Summit in Brest many leaders gathered there and we had the chance to raise awareness! To protect what keeps us alive! Our oceans and defend it from deep sea mining. Too little is known about the consequences of deep sea mining and it could destroy a whole eco system with devastating effects of releasing captured CO2 into the atmosphere!
Please look #LookDown, and #DefendTheDeep
#protectwhatkeepsyoualive #artivism
Very honored that the Chatou magazine featured my story about my mangrove illustration being shown at Cop 26 in Glasgow. I am so proud that I was part of the Explorers Against Extinction gallery in the VIP lounge of COP26 in the UK.
Huge thank you to Ville de Chatou for this article.
What a beautiful night at the Royal Geographical Society with Explorers Against Extinction! Still can’t believe I won in the category wild spaces! Feeling so thankfulI!
Award: Sketch for survival wild spaces artist of the year
Category: wild spaces
Won with the image 'Mangroves'
Competition: sketch for survival
By Explorers Against Extinction hosted by
The Royal Geographical Society in London
Extremely happy that I was able to visit Raffi Schieir and Leen Kay from Prevented Ocean Plastic at their research centre in Richmond / London!
I was part of their jury #Trash2Treasure art contest back in April and they have my artwork on their wall and my books exhibited in their meeting room! So proud and so thankful for their support!
Solving the plastic crises needs many solutions and my work in schools includes behaviour changing methods such as reducing and moving away from plastics. But plastic can also help us when used circular, as the material is very light and it reduces the carbon footprint while transporting packaging.
Prevented Ocean Plastic is doing amazing work to push the numbers higher for recycled materials. Look out for their logo when you are in a shop and chose recycled packaging!
It all began with helping The Marine Diaries ...Brilliant article in the Hamburger Abendblatt about the journey of my Mangrove, now hanging in the leaders lounge at COP26 - UN Climate Change Conference as part of the Explorers Against Extinction gallery.
Beautifully written by Marlene Jacobsen
On this image is the chancellor of Germany Angela Merkel, Bundeskanzlerin and member of parliament for North West St. Andrew, Dr. Nigel Clarke in front of our artwork!
In the background 5 images in A0 Format from the #sketchforsurvival exhibition. My Mangrove, (talks about the importance of Blue Carbon) was originally created for the The Marine Diaries!
“It was a pleasure to meet German Chancellor Angela Merkel at #COP26 in Glasgow & to personally thank her for Germany’s support in the successful placement of Ja’s Catastrophe Bond. JA became the first small island state in the world to independently sponsor a catastrophe bond.” ~ Dr Nigel Clarke
Thank you Dr. Nigel Clarke for your permission to use this image! Very thankful! copyright image: Dr. Nigel Clarke
Huge thank you to Kiara Worth!
for this photos of the Explorers Against Extinction gallery at #cop26uk in action and you can find some more here with UN Secretary General António Guterres strolling by our artwork at #cop26
Photo by UN Climate Change: Kiara Worth #kiara_worth
And huge thank you do Rebecca Daniel for making this happen 🥰 #themarinediaries
Super excited to be part of the Pacific Whale Foundation Auction - Belong to something bigger!
I did an in-kind donation of an A3 print and an eco hoodie (85% organic cotton & 15% recycled polyester) for the 'Belong to Something Bigger' Online Auction which runs from October 29th - November 8th!
YES - Starting today. Head over and bid!
Join them and shop for great deals and the money will support their work to protect our oceans!
PWF's Research, Education and Conservation efforts are made possible in part from funds raised through this auction by generous supporters.
Just received this fantastic book by Steve Andrews
Saving mother ocean!
"Where Does all The Plastic Go? Into the sea, into the sea”! Sing along while reading this fabulous book ’Saving mother ocean’ by Steve Andrews. Find out who first discovered plastic pollution in the Pacific Ocean and how Andrews got inspired to become an ocean advocate by a plastic catamaran also known as the Plastiki. Andrews is a pioneer in raising awareness and motivating others to become change makers. This is an excellent book for anyone who wants to be informed about plastic pollution and who wants to make a difference. Thank you Steve Andrews for inspiring thousands to protect our planet mother ocean.
~ Janina Rossiter, artivist, ocean advocate and award winning author of "1,2,3, Who's Cleaning the Sea?" and "Diamonds, Hearts and Sea Stars!"
Very proud having been asked to endorse this book alongside other amazing ocean advocates such as LIlly Platt and Captain Paul Watson.
Every egg counts! 🐢🌊 And every action counts! One person can make a huge difference! Just chose to have a positive impact!
So proud to be friends with this incredible human Princess Zatashah.
Thank you for wearing my artivism tshirt “every egg counts” - love your support!
This image was taken on a beach clean in Malaysia where they picked up 141.7kg of mainly plastic trash.
The Waves of Change in Biarritz.
Francois Jaubert painted my whale "protect what keeps you Alive" on the wall with eco paint: Algo Paint for The Wave of Change Forum, which lastest for 3 days.
"This artwork perfectly sums up the spirit of what we all try to do: collaborate with our talents and skills to celebrate and preserve our #biosphere." - The Waves of Change
The Waves of Change:
We believe it takes anticipation to achieve meaningful impact and success in business, science, and everything in between. In addition, tackling change requires exceptional adaptation, resilience and trust, which cannot happen in silos.
Whether you are looking to start, transform or scale initiatives, at Waves of Change you will find carefully selected, like-minded investors, corporations, startups, NGOs, governmental organizations and academics, who are sure to become your trusted allies. Your peers will enable you to reach your next milestones more quickly while staying true to the core values of our coalition: promoting sustainable practices that respect and preserve the biosphere.
I really can’t believe I got asked to add my voice to this amazing podcast. So honored, I talk about the need for better female representation at climate talks and more specifically for COP26! And of course how important it is to protect our oceans.
She Changes Climate :
“And one more beautiful voice for She Changes Climate podcast, Janina Rossiter - protecting the ocean through art and education, "A visual language that anyone can understand."”
It’s only 5min! Also please look at the other amazing speaker such Antoinette Vermilye, Alexis McGivern and many more! It’s a great podcast!
I am beyond excited to now be short-listed for the Sketch for survival competition and under the last three. Eternally thankful.
Mangroves - Janina Rossiter
"Blue Carbon is a term for carbon captured in coastal/marine ecosystems. According to UNESCO current estimates indicate that we lost half of all mangroves in the past 40 years. Protecting mangroves is extremely important because they are a key weapon in the fight against climate change. Mangroves reduce flooding and erosion from storms, are nurseries for fish, filtering pollutants, and storing more carbon dioxide than rainforests do. But when mangroves get destroyed or damaged they release the carbon dioxide back into the atmosphere."
The judges said: "So much detail. Very topical. love that the colour is only in the water, and it’s beautifully done with lots of light and depth. "
Sketch for Survival 2021
Artwork exhibited at gallery@oxo alongside our Invitational Collection and then sold via our online auction 28 November.
Wednesday 17th November - Sunday 28th November - Exhibition at gallery@OXO, Oxo Tower Wharf, Barge House St, London SE1 9PH. All Highly Commended pieces that haven't been previously sold will be available for sale at our Gallery Store at the Exhibition.
Women Mind the Water Podcast series: Nina Rossiter, France
Submitted as part of the Women Mind the Water (WMW) digital stories project produced by Pam Ferris-Olson, in conjunction with Stories from Main Street and the traveling exhibition "Water/Ways." This story is one in a series created for a podcast in 2020-21, featuring regional and international artists whose inspiration blends conversation, activism, science, and water. Find earlier stories from the WMW initiative by searching for "Women Mind the Water" on this website.
Janina "Nina" Rossiter is an author, illustrator, and graphic designer. Nina has written a dozen children’s books including Diamonds, Hearts & Sea Stars! and 123 Who’s Cleaning the Sea? Through these books and other endeavours, Nina shares her love of the sea and hopes to make a difference in fighting climate change, plastic pollution and much more. These things are important to Nina who believes that the future depends on our actions today.
Hardly have any words that I am under the 100 finalist for the Sketch for Survival competition 2021. Extremely thankful.
"Many thanks to all the artists who supported us through our Sketch for Survival 2021 competition. It has been another record-breaking year, with nearly 1,000 entries from 47 countries. Our youngest artist was aged 2 and the oldest 90. The variety was incredible with paintings in oil, acrylic and watercolour; drawings and sketches in pencil, biro, felt tip and ink; mosaics, needlework, resins, felt work, canvas, board…the list goes on."
The 100 finalists will have their work exhibited alongside our Invitational Collection at the gallery@oxo in London between the 17th – 28th November. Their artwork will be sold via our online auction concluding Sunday 28 November with all proceeds supporting the 21 For 21 Project Fund.
The finalists are eligible for our awards which include The Artist of the Year awards (Wildlife and Wild Spaces); The Artist Award, chosen by the editorial staff of The Artist Magazine, and the Leisure Painter’s People’s Choice award, voted for online by the public. Results will be announced at the Royal Geographical Society in London on Thursday 18 November. Short-listed artists will be invited.
Finalists also receive one year’s complimentary membership to our Explorer Club. This will be forwarded by the end of September.
So thankful also to my friend Rebecca Daniel, without her this illustration wouldn’t exist, as it was created for the The Marine Diaries #marineecosystemdiaries.
Artivist Series - Janina “Nina” Rossiter
author, illustrator, graphic designer
Women Mind the Water podcasts features inspirational women who share their passion for the ocean. They are artivists (artists and activists) who discuss their connection with the ocean and their ocean-inspired art. Through their stories and art, we hope to inspire YOU and move YOU to take action to protect the ocean. Women Mind the Water podcasts are produced in video and audio-only formats. Video versions of the podcast are available on the Women Mind the Water website and our YouTube channel. Audio-only versions can be heard on this website and on iTunes and Spotify.
Our latest Artivist is author, illustrator, and graphic designer Nina Rossiter. She is a multi-dimensional artist who uses her talents to help protect the ocean. Nina has written a dozen children’s books. Her passion for the ocean and her creatures has led her to start an Artivist Chat on Clubhouse and participate in a wide range of other activites.
Sleuth Art Magazine: We are a group of MA Journalism students based at the University of Roehampton in London. Through our content, we hope to bring creatives and cultures together through introducing you to the power of art.
Janina (pronounced Yaneena) Rossiter, a.k.a. Nina, is an ocean artivist, conveying evocative conservation messages through her art. Having aspired to become a children’s book author at a young age, her stories and illustrations aim to instil a sense of ocean stewardship in children. She spoke to Suzanna Hayek about what triggered her to become an ocean conservationist.
Artivism: How Creativity can Influence Conservation by JOSH PYSANCZYN
Janina Rossiter (Nina) is an illustrator, author and environmental activist. As an Amazon bestselling and multi-award winning author of children’s books, Nina provides a platform for conservation which reaches the most important of audiences… the next generation of naturalists and environmental stewards.
"Artivism speaks the language of art, which is universal. You don't need words, and anybody can understand it. Personally, I’m quite shy when it comes to speaking up and putting myself out there, especially in front of big groups of people. However, I don't have that same feeling when I’m thinking about a piece of artwork that needs to make people realise that there is a problem that we need to act upon. That's why I love Artivism. It takes away all my insecurities of not speaking up, rather the contrary, I feel like I can blossom in such a way that I can't stop. You can share a message, without using words. You can more easily become an Artivist than an activist, so it's also open to a wider audience."
D E S I G N C O L L A B O R A T I O N
Ocean Culture Life! X Janina Rossiter
Beyond excited to collaborate for these designs with OCL @oceanculturelife :
- World Ocean Day
- Shark Love
T-shirts will very soon be available!
The World Oceans Day design is a combination of sea creatures found in my latest book. And is soon going to be available in the Ocean Culture Life Collection as well as the heart-shaped design of the sharks, which i felt inspired to draw after watching a talk by William Winram.
Huge thank you to Tamsin Raine and Matt Porteous for those beautiful images plus all the support! It means so much and you are simply amazing!
I was very lucky to meet the legendary ocean protection family of Dr. Sylvia Earle.
Norbert Zi and I hosted the Clubhouse room in the scuba club on Wednesday the 02.06.2021 - We were joined by Dr. Sylvia Earle, Liz Taylor and Taylor Griffith
A few weeks ago I had the enormous pleasure of meeting Taylor Griffith, who’s an amazing artist and ocean advocate and the idea was born to create a family room to learn more about the family’s work at DOER (Deep Ocean Exploration and Research).
Dr. Sylvia Earle work has inspired me for years - I called my art show in 2019 “protect what keeps you alive”! Inspired by ... - no ocean - no life - no ocean - no us ~ Dr. Sylvia Earle
Watching mission blue for the first time left me in tears but it also gave me confidence in my journey. 🙏💙
Feeling extremely thankful.
Happy World Environment Day !
I would like to celebrate all of our change makers! The ones that care, make a difference and protect our planet with actions.
This photo was such a surprise for me!
I think my heart stopped for a few seconds! Dr. Jane Goodall is part of my change maker series. Huge inspiration! “Every individual makes a difference”.
Super super thankful to you Atul Kumar! Such a kind human and I love everything you do!
There’s a little story behind this image that makes me extremely happy and how life sometimes just happens 💙 connections to treasure and moments that are meaningful.
Very thankful that my work has been featured in the ECO Magazine of UNESCO Intergovernmental Oceanographic. Huge Thank you to Rebecca Daniel and Josh Pysanczyn for including me.
As part of ECO Magazine's special edition, celebrating the start of the United Nation's Decade for Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021-2030), we at The Marine Diaries have contributed a piece which highlights how inspiring and engaging our ocean REALLY is!
The Ocean Decade marks a new era of ocean knowledge and understanding, and offers ocean stakeholders an unprecedented opportunity to drive global change. This special edition encompasses a collection of stories about the different initiatives and debates contributing to each of the Ocean Decade’s seven societal outcomes: a clean ocean, a healthy and resilient ocean, a productive ocean, a predicted ocean, a safe ocean, an accessible ocean, and an inspiring and engaging ocean.
Very excited that my book is listed on the Exxpedition website
1, 2, 3, WHO’S CLEANING THE SEA?: A COUNTING PICTURE BOOK ABOUT PROTECTING OUR PLANET
Written by Janina Rossiter
Janina Rossiter’s 1, 2, 3, Who’s Cleaning the Sea? A Counting Picture Book About Protecting Our Planet is an adorable book that will make young readers aware of the wonderful living beings that exist on our planet and who play an important role in cleaning and protecting the planet.
Excited to be judging Prevented Ocean Plastic #Trash2Treasure art contest! A great way to raise awareness about recycled plastic by showcasing how waste can be repurposed through your creativity.
Are you passionate about the environment and have a creative flare? We are calling all activists, artists, adventure travellers, amateur and professional photographers to submit your images on the topic of #Trash2Treasure, with the aim of raising awareness about waste through art.
Entries are expected to show how waste can be re-purposed - turning trash into treasure.
We are looking for imaginative, novel and inspiring creations. Your entry will be judged on:
▪ Relevance to the contest topic and clarity in interpreting the message
▪ Creativity and originality of work
▪ Story and inspiration behind the work
„It didn’t matter what happened in the past and that my actions start counting from the moment I realised that I wanted to make a difference.“
Thank you so much for having me on your blog and for sharing my story.
Photo taken in 2019 at my expo #protectwhatkeepsyoualive
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„(...) I think it is a common misconception, that in order to be a conservationist you have to be a scientist. I believe conservation is so exciting and important because it is incredibly multifaceted. It provides opportunity for people to make a positive change in the world no matter their education, ethnicity, gender or financial means.
In order to protect our natural environment, specifically our oceans, we don’t just need scientists; we need artists, storytellers, community organizers, photographers, politicians, entrepreneurs and local communities. We are stronger and more powerful together, uniting behind a cause we all believe in.(...)“
~ The Sirene Project - Leoni Dickerhoff The Sirene Project
Very excited to be on Katt Andryskova’s Ocean Pancake Podcast! We had such a lovely chat. Really enjoyed it. Was only my second podcast interview and as always a bit nervous but I hope you’ll enjoy it and feel inspired to protect our oceans.
Thank you Katt!
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How art can turn into ocean activism with Janina Rossiter
Janina is a self-proclaimed activist that has turned her passion for art into action for the ocean. Do you love reading ocean-inspired books to your children? Or admiring mesmerizing fine art? Because Janina Rossiter’s journey includes self-published books for children, working together with schools, and spreading the plight of our oceans through social media. Her Instagram is a snapshot of the beauty she creates and her love for the ocean is palpable through her drawings.
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So thrilled and proud to be part of the Ocean Culture Life guardians.
They are an amazing global community of those whose lives have been shaped by the sea.
“The Ocean Culture Life storytellers are united by a love of the ocean and an instinctive ability to capture emotion and change through the lens. Across the world, we connect these talented creators with our Ocean Guardians.
As a collaborative community we have helped a nation to become plastic-free by 2023, implemented marine protected areas and inspired local communities to consider the power of their consumption habits. So many of us are already making small and big impacts that shouldn't go unnoticed. By sharing your story, pledge or programme, you may just inspire someone else to do the same thing. We're all feeling the pressure to do our bit to save our oceans, but with a problem that seems so vast, knowing where to start can feel daunting and often simply too much…
We truly believe in the power of storytelling and organic collaboration in order to encourage support, recognition and ultimately action for the ocean.”
The Marine Diaries - Live
+A with Janina Rossiter
Super excited to chat to Rebecca Daniel, the director of the the Marine Diaries about my work in regards to the Hydrothermal Vents.
We spoke to Nina Rossiter, artist and children’s book author, about her artivism work. She showed us some of her works covering deep sea plastic pollution, hydrothermal vents, and oil and gas extraction.
Shark Guardian Eco Artist: Each month Shark Guardian selects an artist that goes above and beyond the call of duty for the sake of the ocean and all its inhabitants. We believe that artists, like photographers, play a vital and often underestimated role in ocean conservation. They inspire, educate and cultivate passions that may never had been sparked. Each month during 2021 we are shining a light on some of the great artists we’ve had the privilege of working with .
I’m super excited to announce that I'm Shark Guardian’s 'ecoartist of the month'. Throughout March, Shark Guardian and I will be exploring the various aspects of ocean pollution through my art.
We'll also be discussing my books and why education is so important and where it all started.
- You can discover a full interview about my work.
- Shark Guardian live IG here.
And lots of art!
Greenway is a Youth-Driven Environmental Protection Organization providing alternative solutions to single-use plastic and planting carbon-sucking trees for socio-economic development and reducing climate crisis.
Our social work includes reforestation, landscape restoration, climate education, awareness campaign, conducting research, outreach activities, and collaborating with key stakeholders to implement sustainable solutions.
Our Core Beliefs
Greenway believes global climate change resolutions will be accelerated by individuals and communities by undertaking collective action toward solutions, which include conservation, mitigation, adaptation, policy, and innovation.
Meet Forbi Perise - An inspiration to us all! Mr. PlasticMan! Seeing the plastic pollution in Cameroon just makes me realize again what we have to fight for!
Forbi Perise recalls that when he saw the ocean for the first time, he was terrified.
“I was young,” Perise remembered. “The noises, the movements, the fastness of the waves — all scared me.”
At the time, Perise never would have imagined that he’d dedicate his life to protecting the ocean. A decade later, Perise is now inspiring a movement in his hometown of Buea, Cameroon, to combat plastic pollution and protect the ocean.
Forbi and I met through our common passion to fight plastic pollution. He reached out to me to help him full fill his dream of setting up a library. Find more about our journey here.
Thank you so much Conservation Optimism for having me on your blog! I learned about Conservation Optimism during the Wildscreen festival and their presentation really inspired me. I felt parallels to how to approach the environmental issues. To stay positive and not to overwhelm anyone so we feel motivated in wanting to make a difference.
I felt very honored and thankful that they published my story “Of how I got my motivation to write my second ocean book Diamonds, Hearts ans Sea Stars” #diamondsheartsandseastars and who inspired me to write and to finish the book.
Conservation Optimism is an online hub and global community. They are dedicated to inspiring and empowering people around the world to make a positive difference for nature.#ConservationOptimism
Wild nature is declining rapidly, and the earth’s life support systems are under increasing stress. As nature erodes and the response of human systems is inadequate or destructive, it can seem like the only rational response is despair. Yet if you zoom in from the big picture, a mosaic appears; in amongst the stories of loss there are inspiring stories of regeneration and positive change, with nature making a difference in people’s lives, and people valuing and nurturing their natural environment. These stories are the key to securing our planet’s future; we need to learn from them, replicate them and thereby build a world in which nature and people can coexist. Our mission is telling these stories of conservation optimism — large and small — so as to inspire change.
I feel so grateful that my book is being read all over the world! Malaysia! Wow! Helping to explain #oceanpollution to kids! I loved Princess Tengku Zatashah talk in Paris at the Change Now Summit 2020 in Paris at Le Grand Palais.
I tried to connect and we did! 💙
"Thank you so much for sending me all the way from Paris, France your incredible award winning book voted Readers Choice AND Excellence Awards. I am so blessed to get this here in Malaysia, the first !!! This book is a wonderfully illustrated counting book on the oceans and plastic pollution harming our beautiful sea creatures. @janinarossiter first connected with me after hearing my talks on #sayno2plastic and #zerofoodwastage at the Change Now Summit 2020 in Paris at Le Grand Palais. Since then we have been supporting each other's work , hers in Paris , mine in Malaysia. Am so glad to have been able to share your book yesterday with our young girls at rhythmic Gymnastics club as young as 5yrs old. Thank you again"
- Tengku Zatashah
The art of eco-parenting; interview with Janina Rossiter, mother and environmental activist.
“As a mother, I want to make sure my children are taught about environmental issues and how we, as people, impact the natural living world.”
Very thrilled to be featured on BE MORE GIRL! Thank you Sharon Brunt for telling my story!
Be More Girl is a brand purpose consultancy
There’s never been a better time for female leaders and entrepreneurs, to show-up and shine. Be More Girl champions female-led brands, businesses and organisations, that want to change the world. Age of anxiety
People are deeply worried about the world right now; social and eco-anxiety means everyday decisions – even the most mundane tasks – can feel fully-loaded.
The American Psychological Association has defined eco-anxiety as “a chronic fear of environmental doom”. Whether you’re a CEO, parent or child, by far the best way to cope with feeling like this, is to do something; people who take action have a greater sense of control, and when we take action with others, it helps lighten the emotional burden.
Three original artwork I kindly donated to Sketch for Survial 2020
Sketch For Survival 2020 - Illustrations, Cartoons, Photography & Celebrity
Bidding Live - Bidding will conclude from 19:01 on 29 November 2020
Sketch for Survival is a global art initiative. The aim is to highlight the plight of iconic species; to raise awareness about threats to habitats and to raise funds through the sale of affordable artwork for nominated frontline projects.
The idea is very simple: we reach out to professional artists and celebrities and ask them to donate a 26 minute sketch or other artwork featuring an endangered species or at-risk wild space. The collection tours the UK in the autumn, often visiting prestigious venues. The artwork is then sold in aid of our projects, either by an online auction or through our online and pop-up Affordable Art Gallery.
In 2016 we started with just a handful of sketches at our annual RGS London event but over the last few years the initiative has gathered momentum, proving to be an incredibly effective way to connect with a wide audience and to trigger conversations about tough topics ranging from extinction to climate change. Over 10,000 people visited the exhibition tour in 2019 and the artwork collection sold for over £50,000.
Prevented Ocean Plastic is recycled plastic collected from coastal areas at risk of ocean #plasticpollution. Every time you buy a product with the Prevented Ocean Plastic logo, you are preventing plastic from reaching the ocean.
Prevented Ocean Plastic is not just looking at recycling, which is their business, but also at the people, who are trying to make a difference through art. I feel very honored and thankful to be featured on their Art & Culture section on their website and social media.
“I love that Prevented Ocean Plastic is passionate about their work. Bringing a solution to a problem with a clear and honest message. Raffi Schieir mentioned that companies could do so much more but instead most are only taking mini-steps. So much more is possible – I love that passion, which is also what drives me to create my activism art.”
There must be a solution for everyone. Not everybody wants to live a zero-waste lifestyle and lots of people do not even care about avoiding plastic products. One solution is to use recycled plastic, #PET is currently the best type of plastic for recycling, while #RPET refers to recycled PET. The logo 'Prevented Ocean Plastic' indicates a more sustainable plastic, since the plastic already exists. Recycling, if done right and at scale, is one of the main solutions to deal with all the plastic that is already out there. A product that is 100% 'recyclable' doesn't mean it will actually get recycled. The hope is, it will, but as ocean pollution proves, many products that are in theory 100% recyclable still end up in the ocean. For a product to be recycled, it needs to be properly sorted and made into a new item. Today, virgin plastic is cheaper than recycled plastic, therefore most companies only use a small percentage of recycled plastic, if at all. In 2021 and 2022, Europe and the UK respectively, will require companies to use 30% recycled content in plastic packaging. Income opportunities are created in coastal communities at risk of ocean plastic pollution.
They made it! 100,000 signatures means it will now be debated in Parliament.
I'm so happy and thankful to everyone who signed and shared.
Why did I get so excited about this petition? Why do I care about sharks?
Beginning of July 2019 I was helping Blue Ocean Watch with the designs of the merchandising, which they presented at the GLEX The Explorers Club Summit in Lisbon. Madison Stuart was also there and speaking at the summit. Terence Bulley, founder of Blue Ocean Watch posted a picture of her in the BOW story wearing one of my designs.
It was at that summit I discovered her project "project hiu"! A few weeks after the summit I had an expo which was called "protect what keeps you alive" and Terence provided me with supporting Blue Ocean Watch videos that I could play during the exposition.
I fell in love with Ellen Cuylaerts and one video was about sharks with free diver William Winram - It inspired me so much that I started drawing my heart-shaped shark image which got shared for world oceans day by "worldoceansday". Something my youngest daughter kept saying and that image lead to the idea of my second ocean book.
I felt very passionate about this petition because it was a real opportunity to not just talk or write about it but also show action and I just loved being part of the Shark Guardian team.
This will always be a highlight of my life. Very thankful and hornored that Loopsider told my story. Thank you #loopsider for making this video of my work and to help me fight ocean pollution.
1, 2, 3, Who's Cleaning the Sea? A Counting Picture Book About Protecting Our Planet Fighting climate change with art. Janina Rossiter is an award-winning children's author and illustrator. Now, she's using her talents to educate children about plastic pollution, and we are here for it
Loopsider English uncovers the news and brings attention to underreported issues, in video format. We look for stories that are thought-provoking, that speak to us, and connect us with others to explain the world around us. Right here and now.
Find more information about Loopsider here
Was somehow surreal chatting to Dave Cornthwaite on the #selfpropelled #podcast
Such a nice guy and WOW what a motivation to do things a bit out of the box! “It’s not about how much money you’ve got, it’s about how much money you don’t spend”! Check out his website and TEDX talk if you don’t already know him:
He interviewed me about the current corona situation and how I cope with it being a freelancer. I apologize in advance for saying 1 million times “you know”... but it was my first podcast interview!
As a result of being on this podcast, I listen to the other speakers on the podcast. Matilde Tomat, an Italian eclectic existential psychotherapist, writer, and artist, said a few things that ignited a spark inside me. "Motivation is just a reminder of why you want to do it" and she explained that "happiness is just a mood. The only sense of happiness is within ourselves and you can only find that in the wonder that a child has". I had been so busy trying to help others in the last months that my own writing and the reasons why I started fighting ocean pollution in the first place started to fade away. Listening to that podcast shifted my focus back on how I could help protect our planet and what I needed to do. I started writing, writing, writing, and my new book slowly came together.
From March 2019 to October 2020 I was a Blue Ocean Watch member.
During my time I designed the Limited-Edition Blue Ocean Watch t-shirts and hoodies
"THIS IS MY BLUE OCEAN WATCH" & "YOUR EYES ON THE OCEAN"
You can buy them here.
Blue Ocean Watch (BOW) - is a Monaco based non-profit organization committed to protecting and promoting our planet’s most valuable asset: water. Their team consists of award-winning filmmakers and writers, renowned explorers alongside world class research scientists in oceanography, marine biology, technology, media and education. Their mission is to create an interface between science and people, to engage, evoke thought and make change. The ethos of BOW is to bring the underwater world to the people via all visual mediums.
From March 2019 to October 2020 I was a Blue Ocean Watch member.
During my time I illustrated a series of sea creatures.
Blue Ocean Watch (BOW) - is a Monaco based non-profit organization committed to protecting and promoting our planet’s most valuable asset: water. Their team consists of award-winning filmmakers and writers, renowned explorers alongside world class research scientists in oceanography, marine biology, technology, media and education. Their mission is to create an interface between science and people, to engage, evoke thought and make change. The ethos of BOW is to bring the underwater world to the people via all visual mediums.
From March 2019 to October 2020 I was a Blue Ocean Watch member.
During my time I created the illustrations short film to raise awareness of #noisepollution.
Blue Ocean Watch (BOW) - is a Monaco based non-profit organization committed to protecting and promoting our planet’s most valuable asset: water. Their team consists of award-winning filmmakers and writers, renowned explorers alongside world class research scientists in oceanography, marine biology, technology, media and education. Their mission is to create an interface between science and people, to engage, evoke thought and make change. The ethos of BOW is to bring the underwater world to the people via all visual mediums.
Terence Bulley, President and founder of Blue Ocean Watch made this video of my book 1, 2, 3, Who's Cleaning the Sea? And how we can all work together to fight single use plastic products.
Blue Ocean Watch, A team of film makers, researchers, and business leaders united by our passion to save the world's oceans. As our ecosystem moves ever closer to the tipping point beyond which there may not be the possibility of recovery, Blue Ocean Watch, is the only organization in the world with the objective to gather oceanic research information from sources on a global scale, assimilate and translate it into potential solutions, promote innovation, create educational video material and social media messages for every age and in partnership with UNESCO, disseminate worldwide – to empower every individual to make a change.