Meet Some Of Our Supporters From The Arts

Introducing you to some kind and generous individuals who take a keen interest in our projects and donate time, artwork or make contributions in other ways. We refer to them as our “Arts Ambassadors”. Together their talent and knowledge of the Arts is helping STEF to raise funds and awareness. Thank you to you all, we are so incredibly grateful.

(Keep an eye on this page. You will see a growing number of talented individuals appearing over time from the visual arts, literature, and performing arts who help us. Could that be you?)

Sir Richard Armstrong

Julia Edge

Jana Igunma

Esther Van Hulsen

Anna Short

Sir Richard Armstrong CBE

Sir Richard Armstrong CBE graduated from Cambridge University and subsequently began a career in music as orchestral conductor. He was Music Director of Welsh National Opera 1973-1986 and of Scottish Opera 1993-2005. He has guest conducted symphony orchestras and opera companies worldwide and made many recordings.

Richard Armstrong is an Honorary Fellow of Corpus Christi College, Cambridge. He was appointed CBE in 1993 and knighted in 2004. He is a founder-Trustee of STEF and was appointed Honorary President at the very first ever meeting of the Trustees. You can find out more about Sir Richard Armstrong and how he became involved with STEF.

Julia Edge

Julia Edge has been a textile artist for many years exhibiting in England and the USA. Her work has appeared in Vogue and Country Living. Gertrude, a Pekingese dog was the inspiration for Julia to change direction and write and illustrate her first children’s book – Gertrude’s Great Escape – (Blue Lyons Publishing). Gertrude was not a little Pekingese dog, in fact she was quite large! She was very timid when she was first adopted but after six months in her new home she developed into a very brave dog and became, as her ancestors had decreed, “as brave as a lion and as gentle as a butterfly”. A second book, again inspired by two rescue dogs, will be published in 2026. Julia is an inspiring and loyal supporter of STEF. We are very grateful for her wonderful ongoing contribution to help our work.

Jana Igunma

Jana Igunma is Henry Ginsburg Curator for Thai, Lao and Cambodian Collections at the British Library in London, where she has been involved in research, digitisation, and exhibitions of Southeast Asian materials since 2004. Her areas of specialisation are literatures, languages, and manuscript art of Thailand, Laos and Cambodia. She authored numerous research articles and book chapters on manuscripts, book history, textiles, decorative art and design in mainland Southeast Asia. Her print publications include The history of the book in Southeast Asia: the Mainland (in: The Book, a global history. New York/Oxford, 2013), Buddhism illuminated: Manuscript art from Southeast Asia (with San San May, London, 2018), Buddhism: Origins, Traditions and Contemporary Life (edited with San San May, London, 2019), The Thai Book of Elephants (Milan, 2025), but she also writes regularly for online publications in the UK, Germany and India. Jana is a committee member of the Southeast Asia Library Group and a member of the Association of Southeast Asian Studies (UK), as well as the European Association for Southeast Asian Studies.

Esther Van Hulsen

Born in the Netherlands in 1981, Esther completed a Bachelors in Communicative Design and Scientific Illustration at the historic Dutch Art Academy Minerva. Ever since she has been working as a professional wildlife artist. She moved to Norway in 2006, where she and her husband Stian live surrounded by beautiful forests and fjords and abundant wildlife.

Esther’s award-winning work has appeared in a broad range of exhibitions and publications worldwide and she has illustrated over 30 books. She is a passionate conservationist and has generously donated numerous works in support of international programmes to prevent extinctions and raise funds to help good causes. Her current projects include numerous pubic and private commissions. She generously donated material which was auctioned at STEF’s World Elephant Day 2025 at Blackpool Zoo. We are very grateful to you Esther. You can find out more about Esther Van Hulsen and see some of her beautiful artwork.

Anna Short

Anna has two degrees in Biological Anthropology (BSc, University of Kent; MPhil, University of Cambridge & MPI-QBEE), focusing on primate behaviour. She has worked with rescued primates in South Africa (~3 years), Cameroon (6 months), and worked as a research assistant in Southern India with Bonnet Macaques. She has also volunteered and worked with stray and rescued dogs in South Africa, India, and Republic or Ireland.

Anna started painting wildlife a few years ago as what felt like a simple gift for colleagues, volunteers, and friends. She quickly realised that this small hobby was having a great, positive impact on wildlife professionals who dedicate their lives to saving these species. Now, she also paints wildlife to give them a platform and a voice.

If you are interested to find out more about STEF’s Arts Ambassador scheme and how you can support us please contact info@southernthailandelephants.org or call 07440 514362.

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