As the world prepares for the UN Convention on Biological Diversity’s COP17 in Armenia, the need to protect marine biodiversity has never been more urgent. Sharks – among the ocean’s most important apex predators – help maintain healthy marine ecosystems, yet more than one-third of shark and ray species are now threatened with extinction. Their decline is a stark reminder of the biodiversity crisis unfolding beneath the waves and the need for ambitious global action.

But policy alone cannot deliver the change needed. Protecting the ocean also depends on inspiring people to care about it’s future and this is where “artivism” has a powerful role to play. By creating emotional connections with the natural world, artists can transform complex conservation challenges into stories that inspire understanding, empathy and action.

British artist, scientific illustrator and ocean storyteller Janavi Kramer does exactly that. Inspired by years of diving around the world as a qualified PADI Divemaster and PADI AmbassaDiver, her intricate watercolours capture the beauty, movement and wonder of marine life while fostering a deeper appreciation of the ocean and the challenges it faces.

Rooted in both storytelling and conservation, Janavi’s work bridges the gap between art and ocean literacy through paintings, educational content and collaborations that invite audiences to slow down, look closer and connect with the underwater world.

Hi Janavi, your artwork of the marine world is incredible, can you tell us how you first started creating art, and specifically – ocean inspired art?

Thank you so much! Art has honestly been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. As a child, I was constantly drawing animals and wildlife, and I think creativity became my natural way of understanding and connecting with the world around me.

My relationship to the ocean has always been quite instinctive too. Growing up, I spent a lot of time by the sea, and it always felt like a place of both curiosity and calm. But it wasn’t until later – after finishing my degree – that I really began to explore that connection more intentionally.

Diving became a huge turning point for me. Experiencing marine life in its natural environment completely shifted my perspective. Suddenly, these weren’t just “species” – they were individuals, behaviours, ecosystems, stories. Art became my way of holding onto those moments and sharing them with others. It felt like a natural fusion of curiosity, creativity, and purpose.

What’s been your biggest challenge as an artist in the world of ocean conservation – how do you navigate and balance between these two worlds?

One of the biggest challenges is balancing hope and urgency. The ocean is facing very real threats, and it can sometimes feel overwhelming working so closely to those narratives. But at the same time, I’ve learned that constant doom and despair often disconnects people rather than inspiring action.

I try to approach my work through curiosity, wonder and emotional connection first. I think people are far more likely to protect something when they feel emotionally invested in it. So rather than creating work rooted only in fear, I aim to create moments of fascination and appreciation – whether that’s through storytelling, education or simply encouraging people to slow down and look more closely at the life beneath the surface.

There’s also the challenge of navigating conservation work as a creative professional. Like many artists, I care deeply about the causes I support, but I’ve also had to learn that creativity and advocacy still deserve to be valued professionally. Sustainability applies to people too, and if we want creatives to continue contributing meaningful work to conservation spaces, their time and skills need to be respected.

What would you say to someone who says that they’re not creative, or they can’t draw or paint – how do you encourage people to get inspired and overcome their barriers?

I genuinely don’t believe creativity or talent is something only a few people are born with. I think creativity exists naturally within all of us – we just often lose confidence in it as we grow older.

So many people believe they “can’t draw” because at some point they compared themselves to others or decided they weren’t good enough. But creativity isn’t really about perfection or technical skill – it’s about observation, curiosity, expression and play.

When I teach workshops, one of the loveliest things is watching people slowly let go of the pressure to create something “perfect”. Once that fear disappears, people begin enjoying the process again, and that’s where creativity really flourishes.

I always encourage people to focus less on the outcome and more on the experience itself. Art doesn’t have to be productive to be valuable. Sometimes creating simply reconnects us with ourselves, with nature, or with a sense of calm that we’ve forgotten we needed.

What’s your favourite marine creature to paint, and why?

This changes constantly, which is probably a good sign! But I think sharks will always hold a special place in my heart.

They’re such extraordinary animals – intelligent, curious, elusive and almost otherworldly. From an artistic perspective, they’re endlessly inspiring because of their movement, textures and behaviour. There’s something incredibly expressive about them that makes them feel almost impossible not to anthropomorphise.

I’m also fascinated by the idea that there’s still so much we don’t fully understand about them. They remind me how mysterious the ocean still is, even now.

Ocean literacy is becoming more widely accepted as the way in which we connect to the ocean – “our relationship to it”. How do you think visual art can play a role in making ocean connection more accessible?

I think visual art has a really unique ability to make the ocean feel emotionally accessible, especially for people who may never have the opportunity to dive or experience marine environments firsthand.

Not everyone connects through scientific language or statistics, but almost everyone responds emotionally to storytelling and imagery. Art can create a sense of wonder, empathy and curiosity in a very immediate way. It allows people to pause and emotionally engage with a species or ecosystem before they even fully understand it intellectually.

That emotional connection is incredibly powerful because it often becomes the first step towards care and conservation. If someone feels moved by a species, suddenly they’re more open to learning about it, talking about it and ultimately wanting to protect it.

I also think art can help break down the idea that the ocean is something distant or separate from us. Especially here in the UK, I’m passionate about showing people that incredible marine life exists right on our own coastline and that ocean connection doesn’t have to mean travelling to tropical reefs.

You’ve worked with a lot of community organisations doing great work – how have you seen art making an impact for those committed to the conservation of our ocean?

One of the most beautiful things I’ve witnessed is how art creates accessibility and conversation in spaces where people might otherwise feel intimidated or disconnected.

Conservation and science communication can sometimes feel overwhelming or exclusive to people unfamiliar with the terminology or issues. Art softens that barrier. It creates an emotional entry point that invites people in gently and encourages curiosity rather than judgement.

I’ve seen people attend workshops simply because they wanted a creative afternoon, and then leave having learned about local marine species, ocean threats or conservation initiatives they’d never heard of before. That kind of subtle engagement can be incredibly impactful because it reaches audiences who may never actively seek out environmental education otherwise.

Art also creates community. It gives people a shared experience and a sense of connection – not just to the ocean, but to one another. And I think conservation becomes far more powerful when people feel emotionally connected, hopeful and part of something collective rather than isolated by fear.

To learn more about Janavi’s work and future workshops she is holding, please visit: www.belowandbeyondart.co.uk.

All photo credits: Janavi Kramer

The views in this article may not necessarily represent the views of other RISE UP network members or RISE UP as a whole. It is only through open dialogue and a diversity of ideas that we will arrive at the solutions necessary to restore Ocean health.

The seventeenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD COP17) will take place from 19–30 October 2026 in Yerevan, Armenia, where countries will undertake the first global review of progress towards implementing the Global Biodiversity Framework. To learn more about COP17, registration and official updates, visit the CBD website: www.cbd.int/conferences/2026 and subscribe to the CBD Secretariat’s COP17 Round-up newsletter on LinkedIn to stay informed throughout the road to Yerevan.

Read the statement by the Executive Secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity,  Astrid Schomaker, delivered on World Oceans Day here: www.cbd.int/article/2026-World-Oceans-Day