- From Monday 16 April to Friday 11 May 2012
- At St Petrocs College, Barnstaple, North Devon
This exhibition brings together the work of some of Britain’s leading wildlife artists who choose to work directly from life in the field:
Especially curated for The Goodwin Gallery, Petroc Brannams Campus, Barnstaple by wildlife painter and illustrator Warren Collum this exciting exhibition brings together the work of some of Britain’s leading wildlife artists who choose to work directly from life in the field. They have developed methods of drawing and painting rapidly on the spot and concentrate on capturing the life and vitality of their subjects rather than producing detailed portraits. This fresh and honest approach captures the enjoyment of watching wildlife in the field and records many beautifully observed ‘moments in time’.
Field sketches and paintings are grouped according to particular studies by individual artists. From kittiwakes in the Firth of Forth to adders on a Devon common, each frame gives an insight into the daily lives of these creatures as seen through the eyes of these artist/naturalists. Presented this way it is hoped to give an insight into the methods adopted by individual artists, revealing their passion for the subjects and their in-depth knowledge gained through many hours, months and years spent observing and sketching in the field.
The exhibition opens on the 16th April and runs for four weeks until 11th May. The show is open daily from Monday (except Bank Holiday) to Friday, 10am to 4pm, please report to reception for a car pass.
TALK - Warren Collum will be giving a talk about the exhibition on Friday 11 May 2012 at 2pm - all welcome.
How to Get Here
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The Artists
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John Busby
A founding member of the Society of Wildlife Artists, John has been drawing birds from an early age. He studied at Leeds and Edinburgh Colleges of Art and went on to teach drawing and painting at Edinburgh College of Art. He is a brilliant observer who has his own unique style of capturing the life of birds and animals in his drawings. He lives near Edinburgh and has made a particular study of the seabirds of the islands in the Firth of Forth.
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David Measures (1937 - 2011)
From childhood, David Measures developed a deep interest in natural history. He trained as an artist at the Slade School of Fine Art, London. He lived in Southwell, Nottinghamshire and is best known for his field sketches of butterflies. He developed a disciplined approach to his studies and only drew an insect or bird while he could observe it - as soon as it moved away he stopped drawing. He also tried to stay with an individual butterfly for as long as possible, and to draw on a single page the behaviour of a butterfly from its morning roost until the end of the day.
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James McCallum
James McCallum is a wildlife artist living and working in North Norfolk. He grew up in Wells-next-the-Sea, North Norfolk and became interested in the local wildlife and landscape. He went on to study at art college but it was not until 1991 that both interests were seriously combined. In 1996 he graduated from the Royal College of Art with a masters degree in natural history illustration and subsequently won several awards for his paintings. His approach to understanding nature’s signs and signals is to draw and paint in the field. His rapidly made sketches and watercolours have an authenticity and energy, which is difficult to reproduce in the studio.
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Jennie Hale
Jennie Hale grew up at Largs on the west coast of Scotland and has been fascinated by wildlife from an early age. Jennie is well-known for her lively raku sculptures of birds and animals and also keeps a nature diary. In this she records her encounters with wildlife through the seasons with notes and field sketches. In 2002 she founded Workshop under the Sky, a nomadic art and science based project with its own yurt. Artists and scientists work together to increase awareness of the natural world through observation and creativity.
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Robert Greenhalf
Robert’s life-long interest in the natural world, particularly birds has influenced his artwork since studying at Eastbourne Art College. Originally a landscape artist, birds had a habit of creeping into his work and have now taken over to become the main subject. He lives in East Sussex close to Rye Harbour Nature Reserve which provides much inspiration for his work.
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Warren Collum
Warren graduated from Carmarthenshire College of Art and Design in 1992. Working as a wildlife illustrator he developed a strong interest in working from life - capturing the energy, freshness and honesty which he found could not be reproduced in the studio. He enjoys the challenge of working in the field and concentrates on subjects close to his home in Westward Ho! near Bideford. He has spent many years watching nesting grey herons and the behaviour of adders which has given him deep insights into their lives.
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John Walters
John has been fascinated by wildlife from childhood - amongst his earliest memories are of watching glow-worms in his native Hampshire. He grew up on Hayling Island where he developed his deep passion for the natural world and began to draw and paint wildlife in the field. He lives in Buckfastleigh on the edge of Dartmoor National Park and likes to focus his attention on particular subjects and gain a deeper understanding of their lives by watching them over many years.