LocationsKeeta: Art Teacher and Artist Behind Icons of Hope T-shirt Collection
July 21, 2026
As part of Icons of Hope, a collaboration between UNDP and YUEDPAO celebrating Thailand's iconic species through art—Khun Keeta's illustrations now reach people across the country, inviting them to see nature in a new way. But long before his artwork appeared on T-shirts, his story began in the wetlands of Sam Roi Yot.
For many people, Sam Roi Yot Wetland is a scenic destination known for its rich birdlife and breathtaking landscapes. For Paisan Khamhom, better known as Khun Keeta, however, it is home, a classroom, and a lifelong source of inspiration.
A visual arts teacher, freelance artist, and President of the Dek Rak Thung Community Enterprise for Ecotourism, Khun Keeta grew up in Sam Roi Yot District, Prachuap Khiri Khan Province, where wetlands, mountains, and wildlife formed the backdrop of his childhood.
"My home is right next to the Sam Roi Yot wetlands. I grew up here, seeing the marshes and the mountains every day, until I could remember every detail of this landscape."
His connection with nature grew alongside his passion for art.
Khun Keeta discovered his love for drawing in secondary school. Art, he says, naturally drew people in. Every compliment, suggestion, and even criticism encouraged him to keep improving. The first subject he ever drew seriously was a bird, inspired by his role as a young birdwatching guide, leading students from other provinces through the wetlands when he was only in Grade 7.
From that moment on, art and nature became inseparable.
A Wetland That Became His Notebook
Looking back, Khun Keeta remembers Sam Roi Yot as much more than a place.
"Sam Roi Yot has always been like my notebook."
Whenever he felt overwhelmed as a teenager, he would ride his motorcycle into the wetlands, sit quietly on the wooden boardwalk overlooking the lotus marsh, and watch the sunset. Day after day, he noticed that the sun never set in exactly the same place. Neither, he realised, was nature ever truly the same.
"The landscape would slowly deteriorate, but after just a short rainfall, the trees would turn green again overnight. It made me realise that if this place continues to have rain, water, and natural resources following their proper seasons, it can continue to sustain all of us."
Witnessing nature's ability to recover shaped his belief that protecting ecosystems is not only about conserving wildlife, but also about safeguarding the livelihoods and wellbeing of the people who call these landscapes home.
An Artist Who Chose to Teach
After graduating in art education, Khun Keeta did not become a teacher immediately. Instead, he spent a year painting murals in temples before returning home to work as an artist.
When he began selling his paintings, he used part of the income to buy canvas bags and notebooks so he could organise small volunteer art camps for children in nearby schools.
Eventually, he returned to his alma mater, Sam Roi Yot Wittayakhom School, where he now teaches visual arts. Even outside the classroom, the murals and paintings he creates for schools almost always feature Sam Roi Yot, lotus marshes, birds, and the natural landscapes that have shaped his life.
From a School Club to a Community
Khun Keeta's conservation journey began with Dek Rak Thung ("Children Who Love the Marsh"), a school nature club he joined in Grade 7.
At first, he simply followed his older brother because the club regularly organised weekend activities and field trips. Even after his brother moved to another club, Khun Keeta stayed because he had found a community of friends who shared his love for nature.
"I even skipped classes sometimes—but instead of going somewhere else, I'd sit in the club room drawing bird beaks from the old reference materials left by senior students."
What started as a small school club built around birdwatching, outdoor activities, and friendship gradually evolved into a community dedicated to conservation. Today, it has grown into a community enterprise promoting ecotourism while creating sustainable income for local people.
The Wooden Pins That Travelled Further Than Expected
One of the group's most recognisable creations is its handcrafted wooden pins.
Originally, they were never intended for sale. Members made them simply to wear and exchange among themselves. As the community enterprise developed, however, the pins evolved into locally made products inspired by the wetlands and their wildlife.
In 2025, while exhibiting at Market Village in Hua Hin, the group's display caught the attention of the UNDP Thailand team during a visit with the provincial governor.
"They asked for my phone number and P' Nirut's, but honestly, I didn't know what they wanted to contact us about."
Soon afterwards, Khun Keeta received an invitation to create artwork for Icons of Hope, a collaboration between UNDP and YUEDPAO.
"It felt like being a musician who's been practising for years and suddenly gets the chance to perform on a real stage. You don't know whether the song will become popular or not—you just know you've been waiting for this opportunity."
For Khun Keeta, the project meant more than sharing his artwork with people across Thailand. It also became an opportunity to involve his students in the design process, helping them build portfolios for their future studies.
Seeing Beyond the Animal
Today, Khun Keeta continues balancing life as a teacher, artist, and conservationist. While juggling school, creative work, and community activities often means long nights and little sleep, his purpose remains unchanged: helping people see nature differently.
"My hope is that people won't only look at the animal in front of them. I hope they'll also pay attention to everything around it—the environment it depends on. I simply hope more people come to know nature."
From a boy whose first drawing was a bird to an artist whose work now reaches audiences across the country, Khun Keeta's journey reminds us that art can become a bridge between people and nature—and that protecting wildlife begins with understanding the ecosystems that sustain all life.
100& of profits from the collection support community-led conservation initiatives through the Global Environment Facility Small Grants Programme (GEF-SGP) at UNDP, helping protect ecosystems, conserve threatened species, and strengthen sustainable livelihoods across Thailand.
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