Meet the Team: Marlene Diaz-Ellinghaus Lewis

We’re thrilled to be introducing you to a new team member today – Marlene Díaz-Ellinghaus Lewis, who joins us as Art Manager. Marlene brings a wealth of experience in art direction and design, having previously worked for publications like Tatler at Conde Nast, Radio Times and weekly titles from Bauer Media.

Marlene’s (pronounced mar-lane) academic qualifications are equally impressive. With a first-class degree with honours in Graphic Design, and an undergraduate qualification in English Literature from Oxford University, she has dedicated both her studies and career to putting art and design in the spotlight, whilst championing incredible talent through stunning showcases in print and beyond.

The impact Marlene’s art direction has had is something you’re probably already familiar with. Her art direction generated some of the most stunning and most remembered covers of the Radio Times, with one even featured as part of the British Portraits collection for the National Portrait Gallery. Her ability to combine trends and topical content with the right artist, journalism, and subject, has led to her work regularly being in the spotlight – from mainstream news media to royal commissions.

For someone who will be pivotal to our renowned Wildlife Artist of the Year competition, exhibition and its global reach, Marlene also offers us and our artist community a wealth of international experience and insight gained in-role. Her creativity and artistic talent has taken her from her native Mexico City across to Europe.

We’re incredibly pleased to welcome Marlene to the team, especially as she has already proven herself incredibly approachable, friendly, calm under pressure, and with a natural eye for detail – all of which we’re sure our artist community are pleased to hear. We know Marlene can’t wait to start engaging and working with you all. In the meantime, we took the opportunity to talk to Marlene about her new role and what we can look forward to as we get to know her better.

What attracted you to the role of Art Manager at DSWF and how do you think it will differ from your previous roles?

The reason this opportunity became irresistible to me is because it encapsulates my biggest interests of art, design, and photography by harmoniously connecting to the huge mission of helping wildlife. The work DSWF has already achieved is so admirable – to be able to help to expand the Foundation through a creative angle, is part of shifting ambitions and re-thinking our duties as humans towards nature and the world we live in.

What aspects of the role are you most looking forward to?

I look forward to being able to push wildlife extinction awareness further to the front of public interest, by making use of the arresting beauty that is art. A conduct that inspires new talent and invites audiences to enjoy wildlife through the window of artists’ eyes. 

How do you see the role of art in telling stories and as a platform for raising awareness of important issues, as DSWF does with wildlife crime and conservation?

Everything we see influences us. Visual work touches our senses. So, using art as a device to intrigue curiosity and leading to a path of patching the natural wildlife crisis, is the best way to engage the public. More than ever, we live in times in which one photograph can influence a full nation – to contribute to the Foundation by supporting and using visual and original work to help us back on track to goodness is the story that will help make the difference.

What have your first impressions of DSWF, and the community been?

The team has been very welcoming, warm and informative; but also, with a strong mindset to achieve grandeur! Which is the type it takes to be part of such a big mission. Equally I also look forward to meeting and expanding the art side and increasing the wildlife-conscious community.

What has most impressed you with DSWF’s work and reach so far?

I think the Wildlife Artist of the Year Competition is a very respectable, big league, event. And to be able to organise it worldwide, outstanding. The Mall Galleries, where it is exhibited, brings the elegance that DSWF stands for and represents. In addition, for the majority of profits raised to be donated to this great a cause is almost unimaginable. Beyond humbling and inspiring. It pulls one back to the bigger picture of our world, and that impact is something I look forward to contributing to.