Missouri native, Jeremy Collins, was a literal fish out of water. He pined for the mountains, a yen that has fueled the bulk of his art and anchored his position as the leading illustrator in the outdoor industry. Jeremy has a unique, if vertically skewed, perspective that informs his offbeat cant on life, death and everything in between. Dark and evocative, but created as a conduit for beauty, truth and self-exploration, Collins' singular work is unmistakable. Beyond medium and motives, his iconic signature can also identify his work: a simple, symmetrical insignia that bears Collins' initials, often stealthily buried in the viscera of each painting or illustration. Collins has over 200 first ascents to his credit; from the ozark hills of Arkansas, to the snowy flanks of Mt. Evans, to the dark depths of The Black Canyon. His first big wall was an ascent of the Nose in a Day on a whim, and recently onsighted the Original Route (V 5.12b) on Rainbow Wall in Nevada. Ironically, Collins now lives in the flatlands of Kansas City with his wife, Tricia, where the bags stay permanently packed. Jer joins us from the US.