Wildlife Artist of the Year 2020 online

David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation’s (DSWF) Wildlife Artist of the Year 2020 this year goes digital in the shadow of Covid-19 pandemic and lockdown.

The winners of Wildlife Artist of the Year 2020 will be announced via an online Awards Ceremony, hosted by David Shepherd’s granddaughter and DSWF CEO Georgina ‘Peanut’ Lamb and classical soprano and DSWF Ambassador, Laura Wright.

The winning artist will not only receive the £10,000 grand prize sponsored by Neil and June Covey, but they will also win a safari and two-week artist residency* with the art-orientated, Ongava Lodge and Game Reserve in Namibia. During the trip, the winning artist will have the opportunity to see the conservation work that DSWF is funding to protect the last stronghold of the desert-adapted black rhino.

DSWF’s Wildlife Artist of the Year competition and exhibition has been described as the ‘Oscars of international wildlife art’ and showcases the beauty and colour of the natural world.

This year DSWF received 1,200 entries from artists across 53 countries, with 159 incredible artworks shortlisted for the final exhibition.

Each year, this global competition sees over a thousand entries from professional and talented amateur wildlife artists, with shortlisted artworks being exhibited at a prestigious exhibition at Mall Galleries, London.

In the wake of the pandemic, all 159 shortlisted artworks are displayed in a breath-taking online gallery and are available to purchase. The sale of these artworks will help raise vital funds for DSWF to protect wildlife across Africa and Asia.

The Covid-19 outbreak reiterates how important DSWF’s work is in the current climate – the pangolin is the most trafficked mammal in the world, and this elusive species is at the very centre of the pandemic. DSWF is campaigning at the highest level for better laws to stop the illegal wildlife trade that triggered this outbreak.

Register for the online awards ceremony on Tuesday 26 May 2020 to be the first to find out who will win Wildlife Artist of the Year 2020, when we will also here feedback from the judges on the winning artworks.

Wildlife Artist of the Year Categories and sponsors

• Animal Behaviour sponsored by Gary Hodges
• Earth’s Wild Beauty sponsored by Moore Barlow (who also sponsor the runners up prize)
• Facing Extinction sponsored by Martin and Emma Leuw
• Human Impact (17-22 age) sponsored by Indus Experiences
• Into the Blue sponsored by Paul Traub Associates
• Urban Wildlife sponsored by Moore Barlow
• Wings sponsored by Silversurfers

This year we have also introduced the Elizabeth Hosking Prize for Watercolour sponsored by DSWF supporter Elizabeth Hosking. Other awards present include the Artist Magazine Personal Choice Award. Online viewers can also vote in the People’s Choice Award for your favourite artwork – the winning artist will receive £500 Great Art vouchers and all voters will be entered into a free prize draw for the chance to win a pair of silver Patrick Mavros elephant cufflinks and a Mia Kora silk scarf.

The shortlisted artworks showcase the very best of wildlife art across many different mediums from tranquil watercolours to masterful oil paintings, detailed ink sketches, powerful sculptures and elaborate embroidery pieces.

DSWF is not only a highly effective wildlife charity working to save endangered species such as the snow leopard and elephant, but the Foundation is also a warden of wildlife art.

Wildlife art is very much at the heart of DSWF.

Commenting on the initiative, the late David Shepherd said: “I set up my Foundation with the sole purpose of giving something back to the animals that helped me achieve success as an artist. Every single entry into this premier art competition helps to save endangered wildlife.”

To this day, David Shepherd continues to inspire many talented artists, many of whom regularly enter Wildlife Artist of the Year, giving back to the wildlife that motivates them as wildlife artists. 50% of the funds generated from the sale of these entries will go towards DSWF’s conservation efforts on the ground in Africa and Asia.

One such artist is Wildlife Artist of the Year 2019 overall winner, UK-based artist Stephen Rew, who took home the grand prize last year with ‘Writhe’ – an incredible sculpture of an octopus in bronze. Rew continues to support DSWF as a Partner Artist for the Foundation and is quick to claim that his love of wildlife art began with David Shepherd.

DSWF is extremely proud of our Human Impact Category that is gaining the attention of young artists around the world. Artivism allows young artists to create awareness around the impact humans are having on our environment through the medium of art. Wildlife Artist of the Year is a career-launching opportunity for young artists whose work will be exhibited alongside some of the world’s finest wildlife artists.

Included in the online exhibition for 2020 is an incredible line up of guest artists including renowned wildlife artist and David Shepherd’s daughter Mandy Shepherd and granddaughter, Emily Lamb, plus international cricketer and renowned artist, Jack Russell MBE. Their artworks will feature in specially curated online galleries, with at least 50% from all sales being donated to DSWF to help raise even more funds during these difficult times. Back again this year are the hugely popular £60 ‘Sketch for Wildlife’ postcards.

The online galleries and exhibitions are free to view, but DSWF suggests a £5 voluntary donation when viewing the artworks, to help recoup some income from monies lost from the cancellation of the physical exhibition.

To stay up to date with Wildlife Artist of the Year 2020 please sign up to e-news. Alternatively, follow DSWF on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.

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For more information please contact:
Georgina Lockwood, Communications and Marketing Manager at DSWF
georgina.lockwood@davidshepherd.org

Artwork Images

CLICK HERE for Images of Artworks

Credits: ‘Title of the artwork’ – Artist’s Name/ David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation
ie: ‘The School Run’ by artist Amber Tyldesley/ David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation.

Wildlife Artist of the Year

DSWF’s annual Wildlife Artist of the Year competition was founded by the late, great wildlife artist and conservationist David Shepherd CBE FRSA (1931 – 2017) and is now in its 13th year.

Since it began, DSWF’s Wildlife Artist of the Year competition has attracted more than 12,000 entries and raised more than £1.2m for conservation. The competition continues to be an important date in the art calendar.

Proceeds from the Wildlife Artist of the Year exhibition support DSWF’s work to fight wildlife crime, protect endangered species and engage local communities to protect their native wildlife across Asia and Africa.

David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation

David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation (DSWF) is a highly effective wildlife conservation charity founded by David Shepherd to help save endangered wildlife around the world.