Rikki Morley Saunders grew up in upstate NY. Under the tutelage of her father, an exceptional woodcarver, Rikki's budding artistic vision was nurtured alongside a deep love and respect for nature. In the 1970's a strong passion for 3 day eventing took hold. With her daughter, Rikki settled in Unionville, PA to pursue this interest and was long-listed for the 1984 Olympics.

Driven to reconnect with her love for art, Rikki started sculpting. She found enormous inspiration in the natural world around her, which she enjoyed through foxhunting, fishing, stalking, trekking, and other outdoor activities. Her work began to reflect her concern for the protection of natural resources, sharpened by her immersion in the sportsmans' life.

In 1997, Rikki responded to a serious threat to open space, water quality and farmland in her community. Compelled to abandon the pursuit of her artistic interests in order to take up the cause, Rikki founded S.A.V.E., a non profit organization formed to halt the unnecessary expansion of a highway that would accelerate sprawl in Chester County, PA. Only after ensuring the continuing success of this organization could she return her focus to her art.

Rikki currently spends her most of her time sculpting. She lives with her husband, Jesse, on their farm in Pennsylvania. Together they have created a magical setting replete with horses, dogs, peacocks, foxes, herons, kingfishers, and a herd of fallow deer. "I am one of the luckiest people alive. Only working from real life, I spend my days with these wonderful creatures, observing their habits, learning their language, studying their form and capturing their grace and spirit in clay."

"Gift in Velvet", Rikki's latest work, is a life-size bronze sculpture of a feral white-tail deer which she raised on a bottle. Gift has lived among their herd of fallow deer for 9 years.

" … I choose to capture Gift the week before he sheds his velvet. All of his energy for the past 5 months has gone into growing his magnificent antlers. He is shedding his rustic summer coat. Beneath is the most beautiful taupe cashmere. For a few days this coat is so short I can see every rib, every muscle, his shoulder blade. The testosterone is starting to flow and his neck starting to swell. He still has an innocent face, which will soon become 'the fighting warrior' as the rut begins. He is headed somewhere and something holds his eye. He is caught in motion; his upper body on the rise before the fall …"

"Doing this piece was such a joy - it allowed me the luxury of spending time with Gift, though only the time he permitted. Some days we had 45 minutes to an hour, some days he had other things on his mind." Rikki is currently working on sculpting a brood of peacocks which live with her.

The common theme which runs through everything Rikki has done is her love and respect for nature, and her desire to protect it from harm. This profound interest can be recognized in all of her work today.

Rikki has recently been featured in The Hunt Magazine, Spring 2008, in an article called "Rennaisance Woman".

Rikki attended the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts and has studied under many acclaimed painters and sculptors. She is a member of the National Sculpture Society.