The Florida Lottery kicked off a series of scratch off tickets on Friday featuring works by artist and conservationist Guy Harvey.
With the backdrop of the St Johns River behind her, Florida Lottery Secretary Cynthia O’Connell introduced new scratch off tickets featuring twelve unique works by Harvey depicting Florida species.
“It’s a great partnership,” O’Connell said. “We’ll promote fishing in the fishing capital of the world and Jacksonville is at the head of that leaderboard.”
The Florida Lottery offered the meet and greet with Harvey Friday where attendees could have free posters signed.
Harvey’s love of the ocean started in Jamaica, where he grew up diving with his father on the island’s coast.
“My hobby actually became my career,” Harvey said. “In doing so I formed the Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation and Guy Harvey Research Institute and started putting back money from the licensing programs into marine research and education.”
Harvey has been a long supporter of conservation efforts, like “catch and release” strategies.
Most of what Harvey does is research based, but he says there is an education component.
Harvey says portions of the sales will go to the Florida-based Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation.
Harvey’s fish and wildlife-focused art is seen everywhere from the backs of t-shirts from his sportswear collection to Harvey’s “Catch me release me” Florida license plate, and now Florida Lottery scratch off tickets.