A WILDLIFE filmmaker from Lydney has been recognised at the Royal Television Society Awards for her work on two major natural history documentaries, including a stunning tiger sequence in the BBC’s Asia series.

Abi Thomas, who attended Severn Banks Primary and Whitecross School, was part of the team behind Asia, which was nominated for Best Natural History Series at the recent RTS Awards.

Another series she worked on, Earthsounds, won the award for Best Sound Design.

The 2024 nomination marks another milestone in Ms Thomas’s blossoming career, which has already included an appearance on BBC Breakfast last November, where she spoke about the challenges of filming tigers in the wild using drones.

“It was a challenging but deeply rewarding experience,” she said at the time: “We were working in dense jungles, facing unpredictable conditions, and always making sure the animals weren’t disturbed. It’s an honour to be able to share these moments and hopefully inspire more people to care about conservation.”

Ms Thomas’s breathtaking aerial footage captured intimate, never-before-seen views of tigers in their natural habitat all made possible by her expertise in operating high-speed and FPV drones in extreme environments.

Posting after the awards ceremony, Ms Thomas said: “I’m so proud to see Offspring Films take the win for Best Sound Design on Earthsounds. A true team effort from start to finish.

Also, a massive shoutout to Asia for being nominated for Best Natural History Series. I’m very grateful to have been involved in both incredible productions. Here’s to more stories worth telling and hearing.”

Ms Thomas’s work has featured on both BBC and Apple TV, and her career has taken her from Arctic Sea ice to tropical forests.

She specialises in drone filming in hard-to-reach locations and says she is passionate about using wildlife storytelling to inspire conservation and curiosity.