Worth More Alive

Title: Worth More Alive

Artist: Francesca Page

Medium: Mixed Media, Handmade Watercolor Paint, Gold Leaf, (2022)

Description: Diving 30 nautical miles off the Pembrokeshire coast, Francesca was mesmerized by the way sunlight danced across the back of a blue shark, a shimmer of electric blue beneath the waves. In that moment, she fell for more than just their beauty. It was their boldness, curiosity, and quiet power that stayed with her.

This painting is both a celebration and a call to action. Blue sharks are the most heavily fished shark in the world, targeted for their long, elegant fins, which are sold for shark fin soup, a luxury status symbol in parts of Asia. An estimated 100 million sharks are killed every year, with finning driving many species toward extinction.

As apex predators, sharks play a vital role in maintaining the health and balance of marine ecosystems. Without them, ocean life begins to unravel, disrupting food chains, damaging habitats, and ultimately threatening us too.

Through this piece, Francesca hopes to share the awe she felt in their presence and to remind us that protecting sharks means protecting the future of our oceans. @francescapage

About the Artist: Francesca is a British visual artist, award-winning wildlife photographer, and ocean explorer. She believes that art will save this planet and is dedicated to capturing the beauty of our natural world whilst also shining a spotlight on the issues it is facing.

Price: $4,000