Home - Andrea Collins (nee Bertorelli) Blog

“Creating an ARK or rewilding our gardens – A restorative act of kindness – is one of the most powerful tools we can use to help restore nature back to its natural state”

“All the Mothers” – illustration by Ruth Evans “We Are The Ark” – Book by Mary Reynolds

ANDREA COLLINS - BACKGROUND

I’m Andrea Collins (nee Bertorelli) and I want to welcome you to my website where I will be sharing posts and images based on my past and present life, including my passion for the natural world and its preservation.

I was married to Phil Collins (his first wife) the legendary frontman of Genesis and solo artist, a relationship which began when we were teenagers at drama school in the swinging ’60s. We married in 1975 and have two children Joely and Simon.

In 1983, I embarked on a new chapter of my life in Vancouver and later found my way over to Salt Spring Island, just off the coast of British Columbia, Canada.

In 2001 I published the Salt Spring Island Women’s “Preserve and Protect” calendar. The calendar turned out to be a remarkable success, selling 15,000 copies and raising $250,000 for the “Battle To Save Salt Spring”.

This endeavor was part of a broader fundraising campaign that secured provincial and federal funding leading to the preservation of 6,000 hectares of land. I also ran a successful art gallery on Salt Spring Island for several years where I represented talented local wildlife artists and showcased my own wildlife photography.

In 2018, I made the move to County Kerry, Ireland, where I now reside with my three dogs: Pixie, Winston, and Ellie.

I’m a big fan of Mary Reynold’s book,“We Are The Ark”. And I am passionately committed to embracing her vision of rewilding by diligently working to bring her vision to life on my own five-acre property.

I invite you to check out my blog posts and image galleries, which will expand over time.