Awards - Society of Wildlife Artists Annual Exhibition 2018

This is about

• the awards made at "The Discerning Eye" -  the 2018 annual exhibition of the Society of Wildlife Artists. 
• the artists you can meet next week at the exhibition

The exhibition is on at the Mall Galleries until 4th November 10am to 5pm (closes at 1pm on final day)

I'm visiting two hospitals tomorrow(!) so my review of the exhibition may also be a little late in the day.

Society of Wildlife Artists - The Awards 2018

NEW The Terravesta Prize: £2,000 for the best work exhibited

The "Hyrdrothermal Vent", measuring in excess of 6 feer high, made by Jill Moger is a quite extraordinary work - I've never ever seen anything quite like it. It's explained in the catalogue for the exhibition.

A hydrothermal vent is a fissure in the earth's surface which typically form underwater along the ridges of tectonic plates which are diverging. Geothermally heated water issues from the vent. The assortment of animals surrounding them are referred to as hydrothermal vent communities.

Winner of the Terravesta Prize
Jill Moger SWLA, Hydrothermal vent
Mixed media: stoneware & ceramic183 x 102 cm
NFS

Although reptiles and amphibians predominate as Jill Moger's subject matter, she has created sculptures of many other wild animals. She is particularly drawn to the variety of life on and around the world's coral reefs and has been creating a series of work on this theme. Coral reefs are seriously endangered due to global warming and pollution and Jill believes that artists can help to highlight this impending disaster through their work.

Jill Moger is a self taught artist. She was a Vice President for Sculpture of the Royal Society of Miniature Painters, Sculptors and Gravers from 2009 to 2013. She exhibits annually with the Society of Wildlife Artists and the Royal Miniature Society and at galleries specialising in wildlife art around the UK.

Website: http://www.jillmogersculptures.co.uk/
Sponsor: https://www.terravesta.com

Birdwatch Artist of the Year Award (£1,000 plus Swarovski equipment)

The BirdGuides.com Birdwatch Artist of the Year Award
Andrew Haslen SWLA
Lesser Spotted Woodpecker
Linocut (edition of 75, 9 available)

One of my favourite artists won one of the top awards.

Andrew Haslen was born in Essex in 1953. He lives in Suffolk, has a life-long love of nature and is totally self-taught. He was elected member of the Society of Wildlife Artists in 1988. He has been selected six times to exhibit at Birds in Art exhibition, Leigh Yawkey Art Museum, Wisconsin, USA.

Website: https://andrewhaslen.com/
Sponsor: https://www.birdguides.com/

Mascot Media 'Nature in Print' Award

Mascot Media Ltd 'Nature' in Print' Award
Julia Manning, Artist, Returning Tide (Shetland)
Wood cut | 60x70cm image size |Edition of 25

This is the first time that Mascot Media have sponsored a prize.

For the first time, we made an award at a show we've been attending for almost 30 years. The Mascot Media 'Nature in Print' award was for 'the most original, unusual or effective interpretation of the natural world using traditional printmaking techniques'. We chose a large woodcut by Somerset-based artist Julia Manning entitled 'Returning Tide', which features curlew over Shetland. We hope to feature this image and other of Julia's prints in the forthcoming 'Wings Over Water' book, due next May. 

Julia Manning lives in Somerset and has been a painter/printmaker for 40 years. She is a member of The Devon Guild of Craftsmen, Somerset Printmakers, The Society of Wildlife Artists and of The Royal Society of Painter Printmakers. She has work in a number of prestigious collections.

Website: http://www.juliamanning.co.uk
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/Julia-Manning-Artist-185487711478339/
Sponsor: http://www.mascotmedia.co.uk

The RSPB 'Love Nature' Award

Kittie Jones Artist, Feeding Curlew
Winner of the RSPB 'Love Nature' Award

There are a huge number of paintings, prints and sculptures of birds at this exhibition every year.  This one came top this year!

Kittie Jones is a fine artist based in Edinburgh. She graduated from Edinburgh College of Art and Edinburgh University in 2008. She works from her studio at Coburg House Art Studios in Leith and regularly exhibits around the UK. Kittie was elected as a professional member of the Society of Wildlife Artists in 2016.
Website: http://kittiejones.com
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/kittiejonesartist/
Sponsor: https://www.rspb.org.uk/

Dry Red Press Printmakers's Award

Dry Red Press Award
Carry Akroyd SWLA, Windhover

One of my favourite painter/printmakers who works in a variety of printmaking approaches.

Website: https://www.carryakroyd.co.uk/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/carry.akroyd
Sponsor: https://www.dryredpress.com/collections/art-society-ranges-dry-red-press-award

Birdscapes Gallery 'Conservation through Art' Award

Birdscapes Gallery 'Conservation through Art' Award
Esther Tyson RCA, Winter Sparrow
oil (Sold)

"For her masterful painting skill; her awareness that, in Nature, the ordinary is as important as the exotic; for her commitment to conservation-and-people projects around the world, and especially for painting sparrows!"Steve Harris, Birdscapes Gallery

Esther Tyson lives in Matlock, Derbyshire. She graduated from the Royal College of Art in 2003 and now combines a studio with observational outdoor practice. Esther has been involved in projects within the UK and Worldwide, working alongside organisations such as Birdlife International (Nepal, Vultures), BTO (Senegal/Norfolk, Migration), DKM (Turkey), Esther Benjamin Trust (Nepal), Free the Bears (Phnom Penh), FFI (Cambodia), Salford Council (Salford), Royal Parks (London), SWLA, Natural History Museum (the Big Draw).

Website:https://www.esthertyson.co.uk/index.html
Facebook Page:https://www.facebook.com/Esther-Tyson-RCA-106998002656569/
Sponsor: http://www.birdscapesgallery.co.uk/

The Ian Langford Field Sketches Award

The Ian Langford Field Sketches Award
sketchbooks by John Steel

In 2005, John Steel retired after 23 years working for Northumberland National Park as a ranger in the Cheviot Hills and latterly as park species and habitats officer.

"During my work there was always the opportunity to observe and increase my knowledge and awareness of plants and animals. All my work is field-based. I like to get habitats correct and I spend a tremendous amount of time in the field. I never fail to find something of interest, even in the worst weather." The Journal

Website: none

Sponsor: Obituary https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/dec/26/ian-langford-obituary

WildArt 2018 (competition for those aged under 19)

WildArt2018 Age group Winners (left to right)
under 8 category: Rosa Smith
2-12 category - Clara Thorp
13-18 category - Katie Bryan
Richard Richardson Award - Katie Bryan

The Artists at the Exhibition next week

The artists are

• Monday 29 October – Robert Greenhalf
• Wednesday 31 October – Chris Wallbank and Richard Allen
• Friday 2 November – Max Angus
• Sat 3 November – Peter Partington

You can get into the exhibition for free by mentioning "Making A Mark" at the front desk - see
Visit the Society of Wildlife Artists 55th Annual Exhibition for FREE