"The inspiration for this painting came from the sad reality that so many magnificent wild animals are fighting for existence owing mostly to human influences. The black panther is the name given to the melanistic colour variant of the leopard and the Jaguar so is not a species.
These cats are extremely rare and elusive in the wild. In my painting the panther is outside its natural tropical forest habitat, in a sparse, dry landscape. A leopard out of its spots, a panther out of its habitat. It is moving forward, perhaps urged on by the courageous ibises*, but it is also leaving and maybe that is down to us?
*(The ibis is symbolic across many religions and throughout history, they are associated with the power of unyielding courage and wisdom)."
Harriet Bane, January 2024


Harriet Bane, originally from Bath and raised in the West Country, lives and works in Guernsey. Trained at Wimbledon School of Art where she received a BA (Hons) in Stage and Theatre Design, Harriet Bane's artistic journey was influenced by minimalism, which instilled in her a disciplined approach to composition.
Inspired by her island home's natural beauty and colours, as well as early explorers' records of flora and fauna, Harriet's work reflects her passion for preserving endangered species and capturing the essence of wildlife through painting.