EXPLORERS AGAINST EXTINCTION

               THE BIG ELEPHANT AUCTION

                         

                                                           'Wisdom'

It's wonderful to have the opportunity to participate in the Big Elephant Auction, a new fundraiser organised by Explorers Against Extinction in 2026

'An African elephant is poached for its ivory at a rate of one every 26 minutes, on average'. 

A shocking statistic from 2016 which is at the heart of the Sketch for Survival concept.

Explorers Against Extinction are a UK based conservation charity who started Sketch for Survival in 2017, a unique way for professional artists and celebrities to help support wildlife conservation projects around the world, by donating artwork which is then auctioned to raise funds.                                                                        

The auction runs throughout April 2026 and finishes on April 26th at 19.00 BST 

Find details at The Big Elephant Auction

My artwork is an original woodcut and is entitled 'Wisdom'. Elephants are known to be wise, intellegent, empathic and loyal. Their wrinkled skins have a practical purpose and clearly illustrate their tough and long lives, but somehow also show their sensitive natures. I wanted to try and capture both aspects with this piece and love the way that woodcuts have the woodgrain adding to the texture and mood.

As an artist who is inspired by the natural world and wildlife, it's a real privilege to be able to help support wildlife conservation in this way.

  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!

Artists for Painted Dogs

                                                                'Stained by the land'

This year Artists for Painted Dogs organised their second Autumn online exhibition and I was really delighted to have my mixed media artwork 'Stained by the land' selected. 

Artists will share their sales profits this year with the The Kalahari African Wild Dog Conservation Trust and Wildlife Act. The KWDCT is an organisation in Namibia dedicated to the conservation of African wild dogs, which are Namibia's most endangered large carnivore. They are dedicated to ensuring the survival of the species. Wildlife Act have conservation projects across South Africa.

My Artwork is a mixed media work created with woodcut printmaking and watercolour painting.

                                                             

                                                     SKETCH FOR SURVIVAL

                                                              'Watching'

I am thrilled and honoured to have been chosen as a finalist in Sketch for Survival's 2022 Wildlife100 exhibition collection. The exhibitions and final auction of donated artworks is organised by conservation charity Explorer's Against Extinction to raise funds for worldwide wildlife conservation projects.

My artwork of a tiger is an original mixed media work combining woodcut and watercolour mediums. I chose to depict a tiger as their numbers in the wild are still declining. This is despite the fact that they are perhaps the most recognisable of endangered animals and there are many tiger conservation programmes. Their reduction in numbers is due to loss of habitat caused by many consequences of human over population, as well as illegal poaching for traditional medicines and the wildlife 'exotic pet' trade.

The title of my work 'Watching' refers to the steady watchful gaze of the tiger and aims to explore visually the relationships between captivity and freedom, It also alludes to the complex issues around us watching captive animals and the tragic irony of a growing captive breeding programme not for conservation but to supply the illegal wildlife trade.

All the artworks exhibited by Sketch for Survival 2022 will be for sale by online auction which will finish on November 20th 2022.

Sketching wildlife.

Animals are still the favourite subject for my artwork. Although it can often be challenging to sketch them in the flesh, it's also very rewarding and helps you really understand the anatomy and character of your subject. It always pays to have a sketchbook on hand as you never know where and when you might get a chance.

Snoozing piglets in the home farm at Wimpole Hall 

I've never been on safari or had the opportunity to sketch wild animals in their natural habitat outside the UK, so taking photographs in wildlife parks is my only other option and it does often allow a closer view, which admittedly is useful when I want to see a lot of detail for making woodcut prints.

My lovely restored Albion Press for relief printing.

The conditions in wildlife parks and zoo's are greatly improved from those I remember seeing as a child in the 60's, but I still find it very sad to see wild animals in captivity. I hope to visit the Wild Place Project in Bristol soon, which aims to relocate all the animals from the old Bristol Zoo and offer bigger spaces that more closely reflect the animals' natural habitats whilst also increasing it's conservation work.

There are some fantastic conservation programmes nowadays and better enrichment for many animals, but it would be nice to imagine that one day we won't keep wild animals captive for our amusement or their survival.  

Experimenting

Lockdown gave me an opportunity to experiment with printmaking techniques and mixed medium work. I like the contrast of drawing and painting marks alongside printed surface, but it can be a delicate balance.

                                                              'Original Man' 

                                         Ink and pencil drawing and collagraph print

It was also a joy to document springtime in my garden and the local countryside in my sketchbooks and use different drawing mediums.

GRATITUDE IN ART

                                                   My design Beacon of Hope

Obviously the past 18 months have been incredibly difficult for many people due to the pandemic and it's been a challenging time in the Arts, so I was really delighted to have one of my designs commissioned by global public art producers Wild in Art for their latest and most heartfelt project 

This is Gratitude has been created especially to show our gratitude to NHS and other key workers for their amazing hard work and dedication throughout this pandemic. 51 sculptures have been designed and painted by individual artists and celebrate a wide range of themes around gratitude and resilience. Enclosed by mirrors on two sides, Gratitude creates infinite reflections of the stunning artwork highlighting the endless dedication of all key workers The wonderful Zandra Rhodes is the creative ambassador for the project.

My design 'Beacon of Hope', is a lighthouse, which is a traditional and iconic symbol of hope already used amongst some key worker organisations. The base has a design of rough seas and bears the inscription, 'your light shines like a beacon of hope on stormy seas'. It is dedicated to all key workers who have given everyone hope and support during the Pandemic. It has been wonderful to have the opportunity to show my gratitude by being involved in this project.

Having toured the country with exhibitions in central locations in Birmingham, Manchester and Edinburgh, the public art installation reached it's final stunning location of Southwark Cathedral last week. 

The artworks are now being auctioned online to raise funds for the NHS Charities Together which does vital amazing work to support NHS staff, patients and emergency support workers.

Anyone wishing to bid for an artwork and support the NHS can do so here.

FITZ STITCH

The Fitzwillaim Museum Cambridge have started a community needlework project called Fitz Stitch, during the current Pandemic, to create a quilt made up of squares, each sewn by different people and all inspired by different items in the museum's collection. The finished quilt of 48 squares will be displayed in the Fitzwilliam Museum when it reopens.

I feel very lucky to be able to participate in this positive and creative joint effort. There has been an interesting online group meeting with other participants, who shared their ideas and proposed methods and tips from textile artist Lucy Mazur and Museum Education officer Sarah Blake.

I have chosen to take the woodcut print 'Irises and Grasshopper', by Japanese master print maker Katsuhiko Hokusai, as my inspiration. This is for several reasons: having recently started making my own inks and dyes from natural materials, I had been reading about making both dye and ink from Irises and with a plentiful supply in my garden I thought it would be great fun to experiment with this. Also, although I don't really use the Japanese woodcut method in my own woodcut printing, I am influenced by Japanese Art generally and a great admirer of Hokusai's work.

More on my not too scientific dye making findings and progress on creating my quilt square soon!

A poem for winter

                                 WINTER GLOW

Bare branches spread in billowing clouds    all the browns     

russet and gold     in the glow of winter rays    forming cheer     

piercing the gloom    where sharp breezes blow  

beneath porcelain-cold clouds   over wings of the owl.

Happy New Year

                                           
                                     Wishing everyone a happy and healthy 2020!

                                      Cradled in the curve
                                      low winter sun climbs to rise
                                      lights the bright waiting

The Owl and the Pussycat

My Owl and Pussycat themed Owl for Minerva's Owls of Bath this summer, has been enjoying all the many visitors who have come to see him in Southgate Bath.

On Tuesday 14th August,  11am-1pm there will Children's Poetry Readings with Josh Seigal in Southgate. Including of course, 'The Owl and the Pussycat' by Edward Lear

The Little Owl,Cat, Wisteria and Cherry blossom featured on my owl are inspired by Japanese screen paintings. References to the 'honey and plenty of money' mentioned in the poem are hidden in a special way!

Minerva's Owls of Bath

I was delighted to be asked to create a design to help launch Minerva's Owls of Bath, the 2018 Public Art sculpture trail around Bath.

'The Owl and the Pussycat'

The Roman baths in Bath were dedicated to the Celtic goddess Sulis and Roman goddess Minerva whose symbol is the owl, a depiction of which can be seen on the iconic carved stone Gorgon's head temple pediment. 10 years on from King Bladud's Pigs in Bath, 100 variously adorned owl sculptures will  fill the streets of Bath from June to September.

Sponsored by local businesses, they will be auctioned in October with the profits going to several local charities: The RUH's 'Forever Friends' Cancer Centre appeal, The UK Little Owl Project, Banes Young Carers and The Roman Baths Archway Centre Project.

Full details about the project can be found on their website Minerva's Owls of Bath 

To reference the gilt bronze Minerva's head statue at the Roman Baths, I decided to use gold in my design, and inspired by beautiful Japanese gold screen paintings which often show birds and animals, I chose Edward Lear's famous nonsense poem, 'The owl and the Pussycat' as a theme. 

My owl is kindly sponsored by The Southgate Centre Bath, whose own summer theme for 2018 of gardens, prompted me to include wisteria and cherry blossom in the design. The 'lots of honey' in the poem is depicted by honey bees amongst the flowers and the 'five pound note' will be hidden in a slightly unusual place!

 I can't wait for summer to arrive!

Paper making

I was lucky enough to attend a Washi papermaking course run by the wonderful Master papermaker Elaine Cooper, earlier this year. Elaine Cooper is a leading expert on washi (Japanese handmade paper) and a unique exponent of its innovative use in art and design. She was taught the ancient craft by Master papermakers during a 10-year apprenticeship in Japan that was followed by many years of detailed research and development. Her work can be seen on her website Washi Artist . Elaine runs courses every year at City of Bath College 

                                                    Elaine Cooper in Japan

As a Printmaker I was very interested in learning how to make my own handmade paper and experiment with techniques such as laminating, casting, embedding and sculpting. Elaine was a great teacher and it was huge fun getting out of my 'lonely attic' and being part of a group of creative people all finding different ways to make and use handmade paper for their work. Here are a few of the pieces I made on the course.

Lunar

                                                             Dove Rising

                                                                Solar

Knights Trail 2017

With family history in Lincoln and the Lincolnshire area stretching back many generations, I was delighted to create a design and paint a knight for the Lincoln Knights Trail 2017. This trail celebrates the 800th Anniversary of the Battle of Lincoln and the signing of the Charter of the Forest.

My knight is called 'Lincoln Greene' and is inspired by the Charter of the Forest and the traditional dyers colour of Lincoln Green,( famously worn by Robin Hood). The horse is decorated in a medieval style forest containing dyers plants, and the knight is a greenman wearing the Lincoln insignia of a Fleur de Leys.

From 20th-27th September, all 36 knights from the trail can be viewed together at Lincoln Castle before they are auctioned on 30th September Tickets are available from Visit Lincoln .The auction will be raising funds for The Nomad Trust  a wonderful charity which provides support for the homeless and those in need in the City of Lincoln.

Lincoln Greene

Sitting with Jane

The wonderful 'Sitting with Jane' book bench trail organised by Destination Basingstoke in partnership with Wild in Art and supporting the Ark Cancer Charity was launched in Basingstoke last week.

It was good to see there were some willing helpers when it came to moving my bench about!

I was delighted to have painted the inaugural bench inspired by a Regency Doll's House, which has kindly been sponsored by Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council and is now situated outside the beautiful Georgian building Goldings, the Basingstoke Register Offices at London Rd.

Photo by Ross Harvie

The trail forms part of the 'Jane Austen 200- A Life in Hampshire'  celebrations which mark the 200th anniversary of Jane Austen's death. The trail map and phone App can be found on the Sitting with Jane website. The Book benches will be out in public until 31st August and then will be auctioned to raise funds for the local Ark Cancer Centre.

The tiger that came to town - Chipping Sodbury

Hop along to Chipping Sodbury on Saturday 25th March 2017 

2-4pm.

My 'Tiger that came to town' will be introduced to the public in Chipping Sodbury on Saturday 25th March. Kindly sponsored by the Chipping Sodbury Chamber of Commerce, he will be situated on Horse St outside JMI Kitchens and Bathrooms and joins 3 other hares in the town, which form part the Cotswold Hare Trail 2017. More information can be found on the Visit Chipping Sodbury facebook page.

 'The Tiger that came to Town'

The Trail continues until September when all the hares from around 20 towns and village locations in the Cotswolds will be brought together on display in the New Brewery Arts Centre, Cirencester before being auctioned in October to raise money for 'National Star' the charity which supports people with disabilities to reach their full potential.

Cotswold Hare Trail 2017

The Cirencester Hare Festival has been expanded this year to encompass a wider area and the new event 'Costwold Hare Trail 2017' launches fully on 25th March with a pre-launch at Burford Garden Centre on 9th March

I was very pleased to be chosen by lovely sponsor the Cirencester Talbot Inn to create a playful 'Hare of the Dog' design for them. It features a golden hare and a silver Talbot hound dancing in the magical moonlight. Perhaps the produce of the hops, barley and vines had something to do with that!

Hare of the Dog.

Sitting with Jane

I was so delighted to be asked to create a BookBench to kick off the 'Sitting with Jane' project by Wild in Art and Destination Basingstoke.

Firstly I have a soft spot for Basingstoke because my daughter was born there and it's a lovely area. Secondly...the BookBenches are a brilliant idea helping to promote literacy and are also a great canvas to paint, and thirdly Jane Austen was such a wonderful writer!

Sitting with Jane is a unique public art trail to celebrate Jane Austen's connections with Basingstoke and her birthplace Steventon and forms part of a global commemoration of her life in 2017, the 200th Anniversary of her death. 25 BookBenches will form a trail in and around Basingstoke for 12 weeks next summer, which will then be auctioned to help raise funds for the Ark Cancer Centre Charity to go towards a new specialised cancer treatment centre.

                Back of the BookBench showing the front of the house.

When I was considering a design, the idea of a dolls house leapt out at me because it could combine the Regency period which Jane Austen describes so well, with characters and stories. I've always loved dolls houses so researching period style, decorating the rooms with tiny details and imagining the kind of dolls which represent typical Jane Austen characters was huge fun!
There's more info on my design 'The House that Jane Built' on the Sitting with Jane website.

         Front of the BookBench showing the rooms inside the house.

                                  Detail of one of the rooms

Go Herdwick Eco Travel Challenge

Will you be able to find all 3 of my Go Herdwick animals on the Go Herdwick Eco Travel Challenge? Better than virtual games....have fun with your friends, family and work colleagues on Tuesday 2nd August. See details below or here.

GO CATCH THEM ALL!

Stargrazer

A Sheep in the sun

Charlie Lamb

A sheep in the Cumbrian sun

It's lovely to see all the photos and kind comments from sheep spotters in Cumbria who are enjoying 'A Sheep in the Sun' on the GoHerdwick trail.

Sponsored by the Lingmoor Guest House , this ewe reminds people that Cumbria is a beautiful place all year round, and celebrates the owners finding their own perfect place in the sun in Windermere.

The Go Herdwick trail continues throughout the summer until 4th September. The ewes will then be auctioned to raise money towards the Calvert Trust's £1.3 million target to help redevelop the Old Windbrowe site in Keswick.