Born and raised in Zamboanga City, Angelo Delos Santos — also known in his early art journey as “Dumaguete Inker” — is a self-taught artist now based in Dumaguete. Now a father to a young daughter, Angelo first discovered his love for drawing at the age of seven, inspired by his older brother. What began as sketching favorite anime characters grew into a deeper artistic passion — one that stayed with him even as others moved on.
After relocating to Dumaguete, Angelo briefly studied Fine Arts at Foundation University before pursuing art independently. Over time, drawing became more than just a creative outlet; it became a personal discipline, helping him overcome challenges and focus on purpose.
Deeply fascinated by wild animals — especially marine life and corals — Angelo creates detailed ink drawings that celebrate the beauty and fragility of the ocean. Through his art, he hopes to inspire others to protect creatures that are too often unseen or misunderstood. He regularly watches wildlife documentaries to spark new ideas, and uses his drawings as a quiet form of advocacy for conservation.
Angelo began working with Pinspired Art Souvenirs in 2017. The brand quickly recognized his talent and invited him to join exhibitions focused on marine ecosystems such as seagrass and mangroves. His commitment to environmental themes and his support for local NGOs make him a strong artistic voice for marine protection in the Philippines.
He has participated in numerous group shows including:
- ATOA Group Exhibitions (2021–2025);
- Lamang Dagat (2024), on Philippine marine life;
- PH MAP and PH My MAP (2024), a visual map of local identity;
- Bahandi sa Kabakhawan (2022), an educational art project on mangroves;
- Life-Giving Seagrass (2019), an art initiative on coastal habitats;
- Reasons We Love Philippines (2019), a project that promoted local art through hand-painted, locally crafted ukuleles, while supporting the Little Children of the Philippines NGO.
Daluyong marks Angelo’s first solo exhibition, created in partnership with Silver Reef Dive Resort, and certainly not his last. Over the years, Silver Reef has supported Angelo as an artist and provided him with underwater photo references that helped shape many of his original works. Their partnership continues to blend photography and illustration in a shared effort to raise awareness and appreciation for marine life.
