gallery/special feature
The UK and
Wildlife Art!
by Pip McGarry
he UK is the most active country in the world ground to a halt. In the late nineties and for a few years
T
when it comes to wildlife art! No…..? Don’t following, when wildlife art was arguably riding at its
Pip McGarry’s wildlife paintings have been published
believe me? Well let me try to prove my point highest point in terms of visibility on the market, UK
by Rosenstiels, De Montfort (for over seven years)
…In the UK we have the Society of Wildlife publishers such as Solomon and Whitehead, Rosenstiels,
and they are currently published by Sally Mitchell
Artists (SWLA), the longest running such group of artists, Washington Green, De Montfort Fine Art, Northern
Fine Art Ltd, which gives him a good ‘insider view’
the Wildlife Art Society International (TWASI) and of Editions and from the USA, Greenwich Workshop and
of wildlife limited editions from an artists perspective!
course the Marwell International Wildlife Art Society Millpond Press were all producing wildlife limited editions.
In May 2008, his painting ‘Flight of the Zebra’ sold
(MIWAS) – the largest wildlife art society in Europe With publishers such as Solomon and Whitehead ceasing
for £29,300.00 at Christies in London, which is the
for a few years now. Each of these groups holds sizeable to trade and the limited edition arena heavily aff ected
highest price paid at auction for a work by a living
annual exhibitions. Th en there is the National Exhibition by the giclee process, (which allows virtually everyone to
British wildlife artist, other than David Shepherd. It is
of Wildlife Art (NEWA) in Chester organised by Marion self publish) not to mention the internet – few of these
understood Pip’s ‘A Drink in the Delta’ [pictured], 64 x
Tu ff rey and her team. Th ere is also the Nature in Art companies are currently publishing wildlife editions open
20”, oil on canvas is being auctioned at Christies Irish
Museum in Gloucester, run by Director Simon Trapnell, or otherwise in any quantity. Th is massively reduces the
and Sporting Art sale in London on Friday, May 8th.
solely committed to art from the natural world, plus of potential for wildlife artists to establish a name with the
course the Wildscape magazine, very ably promoted and public.
Also pictured is Jonathan Pointer’s ‘Spring Pheasant’,
published by Ken Stroud. With Christies and Sotheby’s
[original painting 20 x 27”, now available as a fi ne art
involvement with specialist sales of this genre in the late So who were the top names in wildlife art and who are the
limited edition print].
nineties and many publishers then selling wildlife limited movers and shakers now and what does the future hold for
And
editions, you would be hard pushed to fi nd another country wildlife art and artists? Th e great artist David Shepherd
‘Russian Beauty’ by Jamie Boots. Th e picture is drawn
so active in this arena per head of capita – certainly little dominated the wildlife art market for many years and is still
using a graphite pencil and is available as a limited
activity is detectable in Europe on this front. Only the recognised globally for his wildlife paintings. In Canada,
edition print of 495 units each individually signed
USA and Canada can be considered as rivals, but their Robert Bateman is the most recognised and infl uential
and numbered. Th e image size is 200 x 445mm and
populations are so much larger, that the UK clearly emerges wildlife artist for many. Artist Gary Hodges made his name
distributed in the UK by Chantry Fine Art.
as one of the most dynamic and active countries in the fi eld in the UK as the premier wildlife artist working in pencil,
of wildlife art. with over one hundred limited editions sold out. However,
the star of a number of the premier ranked wildlife artists
A recent ‘open’ competition in 2008, organised by the UK has faded to some degree.
‘Artists and Illustrators’ magazine attracted far more entries
for the wildlife section than any other category. So what Th ere are now a number of talented new wildlife artists
exactly is ‘Wildlife Art’? …Th e answer reveals much, for around today and a few rising and established stars are
it covers a vast remit…for example, the genre covers bird causing a stir, for example, artist Jamie Boots produces
art, African game animals, Indian animals, big cats, British some of the sharpest new wildlife pencil images in the UK.
wildlife (including much territory claimed by ‘Sporting Th e hugely experienced Paul Apps continues to thrive and
Art’), animals in 3d, American wildlife, marine mammals, Kim Th ompson and Natalie Mascall’s wildlife pictures are
fi sh, insects, butterfl ies and everything in between. Add to helping to set the pace for the ladies. Artist Jonathan Pointer
this the many new and established mediums in which these is making a name for himself with wildlife paintings in the
subjects can be executed and it gives you some idea of its Sporting Art arena and Steven Lingham’s bird paintings are
scope. remarkable in their quality. In the USA, John Banovich and
Pip McGarry
Daniel Smith seem to be setting the pace. One thing is for
Tel: 01264 359291
Th e production of wildlife limited edition fi ne art prints, sure – with many more wildlife artists in the fi eld and fewer
email: pip@pipmcgarry.com
by major publishers in the UK and overseas, has virtually publishers – the road to the top is not getting easier!
www.pipmcgarry.com
Jonathan Pointer
Tel: 01635 254476
email: angela_french@hotmail.com
www.pointer-wildlife-art.co.uk
www.frenchpointerprints.com
Jamie Boots via
Chantry Fine Art
Tel: 01373 464528
email: mark@chantryfi neart.co.uk
www.chantryfi neart.co.uk
10 picturebusiness
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