In The Survivor, Katherine’s tiger stalks the viewer, unafraid and even hungry in the face of its biggest predator. Its legendary ability to camouflage in plain sight is turned on its head: rather than blending to match the background, the painting’s background is blended messily to match the tiger. With sweeping, jagged scrapes of black, white, grey, and orange, he comes to life like a flame in the darkness - all the easier to burn out if left untended. 

After a century of decline, wild tiger numbers are slowly stabilising or even increasing. And yet there are still fewer than 6,000 remaining in the world, worldwide, and in much of Southeast Asia, tigers still remain in crisis. Big cats are a crucial part of natural ecosystems, and they also hold a powerful place in human art, storytelling, and history. It is up to us to ensure that they don’t slip into the role of legend.