The AFC Conservation Artist Award is awarded monthly to honour a member for outstanding artistic talent and extraordinary contribution to the conservation cause. At the end of each year, a prior recipient of the monthly honour is selected for the annual Simon Combes Conservation Award.

The Simon Combes Conservation Award was created by the AFC in February 2005 to honour Combes' memory. Combes, world-renowned painter, author, instructor and dedicated conservationist, was tragically killed by a charging Cape Buffalo while hiking near his home in Kenya on December 12, 2004.  At the time, Combes was the Director of the Kenya chapter of the Rhino Rescue Trust (www.rhinorescue.org), an organization founded in 1985 to protect endangered species from poachers and to help the communities surrounding Lake Nakuru National Park affected by wildlife conflicts.   As this is the first year for the award, the first recipient has yet to be selected.

Brian is another AFC member active in the conservation community.

Recently he organized an all bird art show in North Carolina, USA, "It's for the Birds" at the Charlotte Art League benefiting the Carolina Raptor Center (CRC). It was a great success, and they are looking at the possibility of making this an annual event. He continues toll donate to CRC in various ways. His favorite is contribute to their adopt a bird program.

Also, he has remained in contact with the Mule Deer Foundation and participated in their various events. Perhaps the best reference is an email received from a grateful Chairman of the MDF Georgia, USA chapter:

"On January 7, 2012 Brian drove from his home in South Carolina to our auction in Atlanta, GA this past Saturday to support the Mule Deer Foundation . He painted an original painting at the show and then donated it so that we could auction it off to support the foundation. I know that you already know this, but Brian has done a great deal of charitable work for us over the last three years. He also drove to Atlanta and painted at our event last year; and before that he did the original artwork for our t-shirts which he donated and then printed a large number of shirts for us at below his cost. I can't express how wonderful he has been to our charitable organization. All of the money that we have raised from his and other sponsor's donations goes directly into the field for habitat and other conservation efforts for the mule deer.

Brian is a champion of our cause and a wonderful person. And, of course, an amazing artist. We hope to continue our relationship with Brian going forward, but wanted you to know that he continues to be one of our biggest supporters. Thanks in part to his support and the support of all of our sponsors - we raised $24,000 and had a 80.6 net percentage after expenses. The net number is the highest net that the Mule Deer Foundation has ever had at a chapter event. The money will all go to wonderful conservation efforts to help support mule deer conservation and habitat protection projects."

Brian studied painting, drawing, and illustration of various genres from 1986-1991 at "The Jasar's School of Drawing and Illustration" in Sayville, NY. where he developed good fundemental draughtsmanship and painting skills. The combination of his lifelong fascination of nature with and his unique impressionist/expressionist style was first debuted at the 2009 Southeastern Wildlife Exposition in Charleston, SC. Among his awards was the David Cook Drawing Award at the National Exhibition of Wildlife Art in Liverpool, England.

View more previous winners:

• 2009 Conservation Artist Award Winners
• 2008 Conservation Artist Award Winners
• 2007 Conservation Artist Award Winners
• 2006 Conservation Artist Award Winners
• 2005 Conservation Artist Award Winners
• 2004 Conservation Artist Award Winners