DAVID SHEPHERD WILDLIFE FOUNDATION

WILDLIFE ARTIST OF THE YEAR 2024

I was absolutely thrilled that my mixed media work entitled 'Fading Away' was a finalist in DSWF Wildlife Artist of the Year 2024 and included in their wonderful exhibition at the Mall Galleries London this summer.

After watching the challenges faced by the migratory monarch butterfly, so graphically shown by David Attenborough in his series Planet Earth III, I was inspired to illustrate their plight. My linocut and watercolour piece aims to highlight the gradual insidious loss of this now endangered butterfly, in a direct visual way, through careful use of colour, tone and composition. Very few people are privileged enough to witness in person, the sight of a million stunningly beautiful butterflies together, but I hope we can all understand how the loss of any wildlife and natural environments, doesn't just drain the colour from our lives but is a serious threat to survival of all life on our planet.

The WAY exhibition raises funds for the critical conservation work of DSWF so I was really delighted that 'Fading Away' was sold, as were the two Mini Master postcard size works I also donated.

I was honoured to be part of the exhibition and there were so many inspiring artworks to see, that I'm already planning next year's submission!