PORT Elizabeth artist Lez Barker has found a way to combine her passions of art and nature in her latest exhibition.

Four years ago the artist, who is now the chairman of the local branch of the Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa (Wessa), decided to go back to Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University to obtain her BTech in fine art following a 28-year break from studying.

Lez, who signs her paintings with her maiden name, Lez Dor, is showing her graduate exhibition titled Landmarks – Coega at the Alliance Française until December 12.

“I love learning and thought going back to study would be an ideal way to improve my art,” she said.

Previously the artistic wife and mother of three worked in several creative fields going from a 27-year stint as a footwear designer to designing clothes, running a catering business with a friend and later branching out into a perfume.

Two years into her BTech programme, she decided to take her love of the environment to a practical level by joining Wessa, a group which is known for its role as environmental watchdog and teacher.

“When I joined I did not think of being chairperson at all, I just wanted to help out, but things worked out this way and I’m blessed to have such a great team,” she said.

With a head full of ideas for sustainable ways to conserve nature, Lez hopes to inspire people to make a difference.

“There are a number of things you can do to reduce your carbon footprint, from saving water and electricity, to cutting out meat a couple of times a week, we can all make a difference.

“Although I am a vegetarian I am not saying everyone needs to follow my way of life, but I do believe reducing how much meat you consume can make a difference to the impact created by the meat industry in terms of resources that are being utilised,” she said.

Lez’s love of nature is highly evident in her exhibition of large-format paintings showing the impact the harbour at Coega will have on the environment.

“Landmarks is a story of the land, our relationship with it, and how we view that relationship – zoomed in and out and upside down,” said Lez.

“I am not trying to make any overt statements, I am just painting it like it is and giving people the opportunity to make up their own minds.

“The paintings are arranged starting at the coastal salt pans and moving inland to the path, mountain and quarry which are being marked by ‘progress’,” she said.

As chairman of Wessa the energetic artist has moved from just making what can be called silent statements about her feelings towards humanity’s interaction with nature to educating people about their individual contributions.

Lez says it’s important to remember that regardless of how small your contribution to nature conservation is, it is part of a bigger plan to save the planet.