Art Safari was founded by Mary-Anne Bartlett in 1999, a unique independent travel company specialising in curating painting expeditions worldwide and delivering expert art tuition to thousands of creatives. Our small team at Art Safari HQ sitting on the Ferry Quay in Woodbridge, Suffolk, are devoted in providing guests with amazing experiences and a sketchbook full of memories. Meet them below!
Founder and Director
Mary-Anne had the idea for Art Safari in 1999 while travelling in Malawi. She returned to the UK and ran the first overseas tour in 2003 to Malawi and Zambia.
Mary-Anne’s art education spanned Suffolk College for her Foundation, Exeter University and Art Collage BA Comb Hons, and the Ecole des Arts Decoratifs in Strasbourg, France for her MA.
Her huge joy to travel and paint with like-minded people over the years fuelled her passion to found Art Safari, a travel professional company that has taken her to all corners of the globe for over two decades. Mary-Anne’s hometown of Woodbridge has been a trampoline for the rest of the world, taking her from Europe, the Americas, Africa, Asia, Antarctica and all the way to the Artic regions.
Mary-Anne’s favourite destination is possibly Malawi in the heart of Africa. where it all began – but there are many close contenders. When she isn’t travelling and painting you can find her kayaking on the River Deben in Woodbridge.
Head of Operations
Hollie joined in early 2022 and comes from an adventure travel industry background.
She has travelled to many off-beat destinations around the world including Bhutan, Sudan, Algeria, Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Malawi, Guatemala, Brazil, Ecuador and Uzbekistan, but has also travelled extensively around Europe and India.
Travel highlights include working at the Rio Carnival, a solo backpacking trip around Syria, and doing an internship at a publishing house in New Delhi for a time.
When not planning adventures, Hollie can usually be found with her nose in a book, checking out the latest films at the local cinema, and cuddling cats. She also dabbles in a bit of sketching, focusing mainly on people, birds and animals – her sketchbooks are a delight.
Travel Manager and Marketing Coordinator
Harriet joined us in September 2023, with a BA Hons degree in Animation Production and as a qualified RYA Senior Sailing Instructor. Harriet is our guru for all the film editing for the virtual events. Harriet loves the detail, she will help you decide which tour is right for you and help book flights for you. She is an artist and also has a small independent art business called Memory Holmes.
Her travels have taken her to the Himalayan mountains in Nepal, the Haute-Savoie region of France visiting Lake Annecy for an animation festival. She has been adventuring to the Bahamas on an Art meets Science workshop with the Bimini Shark Lab, where she loved sketching underwater and swimming with several different species of shark. She has joined an Art Safari to Zambia’s South Luangwa’s National Park.
Harriet also enjoys snorkelling in Cornwall and Wales, as seen here in Pembrokeshire.
Book-keeper
Debbie studied ATOL Travel Training at Colchester and worked in travel companies for many years before retraining as a book-keeper. Her presence at Art Safari HQ once a week adds to the fun of the office. She brings with her a wealth of experience and keeps our accounts and our returns totally up to date, working closely with Mary-Anne for all those hoops we have to leap through in this heavily regulated industry.
Her favourite place (outside Suffolk) is Seville, the atmosphere of this beautiful city made her want to live there.
Debbie has a weakness for bacon rolls and spaniels.
Travel Assistant and Event Coordinator
Jemma joined us in July 2023, having just graduated from Lancaster University with a first class degree in Fine Art.
Last October, Jemma set off on a seven-month backpacking adventure that took her from swimming with whale sharks in the Maldives to motorbiking through Vietnam’s Ha Giang mountains. Along the way, she trekked jungles, scuba dived, explored ancient temples, and shared countless cups of tea and conversations with people from all walks of life. Her journey taught her the value of shared experiences, human connection, and creating memories that truly last. Now back from her travels, Jemma brings that spirit of adventure and appreciation for people into everything she does here.