ian mackie

Ian Mackie is a multidisciplinary artist, graphic designer, surfer, and freediver, whose creative journey has been shaped by a life spent between land and sea. Born in New Zealand, Ian has lived in Fiji, Scotland, East London, and now calls Cape Town home.

He studied graphic design at East London Technical College and built a successful career working with top advertising agencies and design studios in London and Cape Town.

Ian’s art is deeply influenced by his passion for travel, nature, and adventure. For the past seventeen years, he has honed his figure drawing practice at the Artists Co-Op in Observatory, and previously at Brights Studio in Woodstock.

A growing fascination with the ocean has led Ian to explore underwater photography through freediving. This exploration gave rise to his SeaLife Drawing series— a unique fusion of underwater photography and figure drawing. Blending mythological themes with visual storytelling, the series evokes Greek sea gods, nymphs, and elements of mystery, fantasia, and fatal attraction.

Ian’s work reflects a deep connection to the natural world, seamlessly merging technical skill with dreamlike narrative and emotional depth.

Check out more from Ian's SeaLIfe drawing series:

🌐 https://designology.co.za/art

📸 Instagram: @ian.mackie

Unless stated otherwise, all artwork and photos in this article: © Ian Mackie

Photo by: Gunnar Oberholser

How does the ocean inspire your art?

The ocean is like a big pot of blue paint with many tones and moods. I free dive in the majestic kelp forests and use photography, figure drawing and video to capture the moments of underwater exploration and imagination.

Do you have a personal or first experience with the ocean that shaped your art?

In 2016 I was gifted a freediving wetsuit; changing my world forever. Upon contact with water, especially diving down into the kelp forests, there is a sense of peace and wellbeing, a stillness that brought on a flood of ideas and ignited my imagination.

This sparked imagery of Greek sea gods, nymphs and fantasia and hence the "SeaLife Drawing Series" started.

Tell us about a particular piece of art you created that is inspired by the ocean

My favourite piece is “Melancholy”. I dived down to about 6 meters and held onto the base of a kelp stem. The scene was eerie, dreamy but yet light shone through the top of the kelp forest. This was the first image of the “SeaLife Drawing Series” that in essence defines the human connection … by combining the two life drawing figures into the scene.

In your opinion, why is it important to protect marine spaces?

We can all learn so much from marine spaces; from the impact of human activities to personal growth and interrelationships. We have a duty to protect them because they can’t protect themselves. When these spaces are protected and well managed, they flourish and there is an abundance of marine life. I feel that we, as divers, are custodians of the sea and it is our duty to document and protect marine life.

To this end, I am an active participant and advocate for initiatives like plastic clean-ups with Trail Freedivers and our partners.

ian mackie

How does the ocean inspire your art?

Do you have a personal or first experience with the ocean that shaped your art?

Tell us about a particular piece of art you created that is inspired by the ocean

In your opinion, why is it important to protect marine spaces?

What can art bring to the conversation in marine protection?

"A strong symbolic message is needed to communicate the importance of marine protection. Art touches the soul and the ocean (water) is deeply symbolic. Using art to reach people in a meaningful way is an important tool in awareness and education."

ian mackie

How does the ocean inspire your art?

Do you have a personal or first experience with the ocean that shaped your art?

Tell us about a particular piece of art you created that is inspired by the ocean

In your opinion, why is it important to protect marine spaces?

What can art bring to the conversation in marine protection?

"A strong symbolic message is needed to communicate the importance of marine protection. Art touches the soul and the ocean (water) is deeply symbolic. Using art to reach people in a meaningful way is an important tool in awareness and education."

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