TIM BIGGS

A word from Tim

2011-06-27T15:36:00.009+02:00

Dear friends,

Waves at Sea Point

I am an amateur artist trying to fit in a quick sketch or painting here and there. Fortunately, through my work as a geologist and as a kayaker, I get around to some amazing places and meet the most extraordinary people, and so there's always new material and ideas "brewing" on my mind, just waiting to hit the canvas.

I have a passion for water studies―especially rapids (and recently, sea waves)―and the next best thing to running and surfing them is painting them. My mission is to discover the art of capturing that sensation of raw power and beauty I feel when I'm out there. I love it: it's become part of my life just as exploring rivers has.

Any feedback and comments, friendly or harsh, will be greatly appreciated. Please add your comments (or use the Contact Me button) to my work and "crit" freely; I'd particularly welcome any tips or techniques from the experts out there and from those who have already mastered the game.

Most importantly, I hope this blog encourages you to put your hand to drawing and painting. It is a blast!

Still Life

Cheers,

Tim

Story of Three Rivers of the Amazon

2011-06-25T17:23:00.010+02:00

Tim Biggs is the first person who has kayaked the three main tributaries of the Amazon River. His quest got underway with the Urubamba River (1981), continued on the Apurimac River (1985), and concluded on the Marañón River (2004).
Tim's book is a detailed (sometimes unbelievable) account of a most extraordinary feat. A cast of diverse, heroic, and eccentric characters ensures that the action on the riverbanks matches the action-packed thrills and spills on the river. This promises an unforgettable read.

As Tim pursues his dream, his adventures multiply. During his travels, he somehow manages to fall off a cliff but survives; he devours 'delicacies' that'll make anyone's stomach turn; he becomes the enemy of man's best friend but survives. He also survives the Incas' revenge! And that is only life on the shore!

    Then there are the rivers, each with its distinct qualities and traits. The Urubamba is fierce, unpredictable and yet stunningly beautiful, sporting both the ruins of Machu Picchu and the treacherous Torontei Gorge. Secondly, there's the Apurimac― walled in and inhospitable where infighting among members threatens to sink the highly-charged, adrenaline-filled expedition. To add to the tension, politics rears its ugly, unwanted head...
    The final river in this trilogy is the Marañón. Tim is now in his fifties and leads the expedition, but will he be able to keep up with the young, hotshot swashbucklers who make up the team?
    This true-life account is told with absolute honesty and exposes all aspects of life on the remote rivers of South America (and a few other places). Journal sketches and illustrations by Tim add authenticity to this wonderful, positive tale.
    However, as Tim explores the rivers and wonders of the world, he is brave enough to face and admit to the shortcomings in his own life. This results in the exploration of another river―one that ultimately changes the course of Tim's own life.
    This is Tim's first book.

Tim's crew on the Marañón River in 2004

2011-06-22T16:05:00.007+02:00

From left: Kyle, Shaun, Graeme and Ross

Tim on the water

2011-06-15T16:24:00.000+02:00