Joel Kirk was born in 1948 in Dorking, Surrey. A primary interest in art was encouraged by his father, and a penchant for drawing horses and World War II aircraft was to initiate what was to become a very successful career as an artist. Joel is married and lives in Southern England.

In the interim years preceding college, Joel’s fervent interest in books about big game hunters was ironically to instill in him a passion for wildlife, and its conservation. It is a composition of his talent, and a need to help in the quest to save endangered species, that has enabled Joel to become a willing benefactor in many wildlife preservation organizations. He has donated paintings to raise much-needed funds for The Born Free Foundation, The Diane Fossey Gorilla Fund and The World Society For The Protection Of Animals.

Joel takes special care in the research of his wildlife subjects, and the need or realism is of paramount importance to him. He has thousands upon thousands of books, magazines and illustrations on this subject piling from top to bottom the walls of his studio.

Joel’s works have been published by some of the most prestigious publishing houses in Britain, and his paintings are part of many private collections, and have been exhibited in many galleries in Europe and the USA.