SWLA Wildlife Art exhibition

Running until the 8th is the Society of Wildlife Artists' annual Natural Eye exhibition at the Mall galleries in London.

On display are various depictions of wildlife in media ranging from oils, acrylics, and watercolours, to stylised linocut and monoprinted work, to three dimensional works of wire, bronze, and silver. And much more. Various styles are on display as well from the very realistic to stylised and abstract works, although this year it seemed to me that more abstract works were on display.

From left to right: Gannets - Alastair Proud, Hare - Max Angus, Seals - John Threlfall

This is the third or  fourth time I've been to visit and some of the artists' work are instantly recognisable - although I'm still terrible at remembering names! Two that I always notice are Harriet Mead's scrap metal sculptures, this year three were on display (see below) a fish, lapwing, and a fox. The other is Brin Edwards who's bright oil paintings have distinctive square-shaped mark making with bright areas of underpainting breaking through to create a more illustrative outline.

(Above) Harriet Mead's lapwing and fish scrap metal sculptures
(Below) Brin Edward's Oystercatcher

Wildlife art in the exhibition is international in nature including the more exotic along with British wildlife and although there are mammals and insects on display there is a strong lean towards birds. 

Sloth - Simon Turvey, Little Grebe - Richard Allen, Swallows - Adam Binder

Looking at the linocuts again I'm tempted to have a go as I do like the distinctive style you can get in them and it was always something that I never got to try out at college much along with woodcuts.

Young artists had their winning and commended artwork on show under young artist awards for various age groups and there was some excellent young talent on display. Other awards were aimed at wildlife conservation issues and were provided by groups such as the RSPB and BTO where wildlife artists accompanied bird ringers and nest checkers to produce sketchwork. The Wildlife Trusts had an Undersea Art Award where an artist traveled to a propose Marine Conservation Zone in Northumberland to produce artwork of the coastal and marine wildlife. This included dive training which sounded particularly appealing to my ears!