Wildlife Artist of the Year
Welcome to our Finalists’ gallery for Wildlife Artist of the Year 2023. Our judges whittled over 1,400 pieces down to 157 for final exhibition, below are the shortlisted artworks and winners.
Please show your support for your favourite artist and artwork by voting in the DSWF People’s Choice Award below.
ARTWORK DESCRIPTION
James Summerbell’s colourful painting illustrates the juxtaposition between the wild and the urban and how the two coexist together side by side. It was James’ inspiration that beauty can be found on both sides of this coexistence.
ARTIST BIOGRAPHY
James Summerbell (b.1983) grew up on a dairy farm. He had an interest in art from an early age and went on to gain a Bachelor of Arts in Graphic Design. James’ work is inspired by his appreciation of the varied wildlife and rural landscapes that surround his home in West Wales, UK. An avid photographer and outdoorsman, James’ passion for exploring the vast coastal and mountainous regions of Wales has inspired his depictions of its wild inhabitants.
It was the exploitation of these highly intelligent animals for the food industry that inspired Jenna Green to create ‘Float’, her large drawing of an octopus. Detailed charcoal rendering on mount board and highlighted with 23k gold leaf, Jenna felt her choice of medium reiterated her message of worth and value. It is Jenna’s hope that this piece will encourage audiences to question their personal choices, and how they interact with animals.
Using a monochromatic colour palette, Jenna specialises in creating hyper realistic wildlife pieces in charcoal and graphite. She utilises gold leaf to represent the value of her subjects, aspiring to create striking messages through her art. She is currently studying a postgraduate degree in environmental and energy law, and aims to utilise both her art and education to advocate for environmental and animal rights.
After supporting the world’s largest single stock fishery for decades, Engraulis Ringens became infamous when the fishery crashed in 1972, due to overfishing and environmental disturbances. This happening was the inspiration for Jessica Eggers’ mesmerising mono drawing. Jessica presents the Peruvian anchovy as a symbol for greedy fishing practices everywhere, whilst serving as a reminder that the oceans are not, and never were, inexhaustible.
Jessica Eggers is a South African pen and ink artist who is inspired by the sea and its amazing creatures. Through her drawing Jessica communicates insights gained from her experience as a science and fisheries management postgraduate. Bringing together these two areas of her life, Jessica has worked on a variety of projects ranging from infographics to scientific illustrations and also broader wildlife art. Her knowledge of the biology of the marine world and the precision inherent to scientific discipline are apparent in the fine detail of Jessica’s art, creating a mesmerising coalescence of what it is to observe and to image.
Tim Hastilow’s work is inspired by his passion for nature, conservation and wildlife. This pen and ink wash drawing of a vulture, ‘Spirit of 77’, is named due to the vulture’s facinating head feathers which Tim created as a homage to the 1977’s punk rock. When creating this piece, Tim chose to listen to ‘The Damned’, one of his favourite bands of this era which further inspired the Rock ‘n’ Roll feel of the piece.
Hertfordshire-born Tim Hastilow studied art over 35 years ago but only returned to drawing and painting 5 years ago after encouragement from his family. He started drawing pencil portraits of animals and family pets for relatives and friends, rediscovering his passion for art and wildlife. Tim’s work is inspired by his passion for nature conservation and wildlife, from primates to birds, and captures their character in his own unique style. His seemingly random scribbles build up a complex texture to give the desired effect.
The common snail, so often crushed beneath our feet or killed by pesticides because they eat the hostas! Vicki Leslie’s highly detailed fabric and thread textile piece encourages us to look more closely as she feels they are far more beautiful than we give them credit for. Vicki feels the common snail to be an intricate, beautifully engineered and stunning life form that is often overlooked as one to be admired.
Vicki took to producing textile art late in life, but there was always a creative side to her that wanted to come out. Vicki’s highly detailed work, mainly of wildlife, is constructed using only fabric and thread and is referred to as free-motion embroidery or thread painting. This is quite an unusual artistic medium and no paint, pens or pencils are used in the portrayal of Vicki’s subjects. Such is the intricacy of the fine detail that, on first glance, many assume her work to be more a conventionally painted piece.
‘Likwena’, a highly detailed drawing by James Hitchen, offers the viewer a late afternoon glimpse of a Nile crocodile submerging itself into dark waters during the summer rainfall season. James’ intention was to capture this species in monochromatic shades to provide sharp detail, at the same time awakening the response to a predator in the artist’s home river, the Zambezi.
James Hitchins is a self-taught artist born in Zimbabwe and raised in Zambia. As a wildlife conservationist with Victoria Falls and the Zambezi river on his doorstep, James’ inspiration comes from the quiet moments in the African outdoors. Using either graphite or white chalk to create monchromatic images, James demonstrates his great love for wildlife.
Nick Mackman is a close watcher of animals, their actions, reactions and general behaviour. Based on her observations in Zambia, Nick wanted to capture the sheer joy of baby elephants wallowing in mud, surrounded by their family and with not a care in the world! Her sculpture depicts a baby elephant thoroughly enjoying the sensation of squidgy mud with happiness expressed from its face through to its tail.
Nick Mackman’s art is informed by her life-long love of animals and most of her sculptures are based on observations made in the wild, reflecting a concern for preserving endangered species. Nick grew up with a dog by her side and learned from an early age that every animal has its own distinctive personality. As an artist, her work is a continually evolving exploration of animal behaviour. Nick never starts a new piece without making that connection with her subject. She needs to understand the animal, its environment, behaviour and personality; know its story and what it’s feeling.
This ‘macrosculputure’ is an enlarged view of the feather of a Ramphastos sulfuratus (keel-billed toucan). As the viewer’s perspective shifts, the barbules conceal or reveal different colours and shapes throughout the work. On the reverse is a depiction of Field Museum specimen tag No. 325719, citing the Toucan’s 1966 origin on Pipeline Road along the Panama Canal.
Deception is the very nature of nature. On daily walks during the COVID-19 pandemic, Spencer paused to examine nature’s intricate details. Photographing a feather with a macro lens, he witnessed colours, shapes and textures not readily discernible to the human eye. This perspective inspires Spencer’s wooden ‘macrosculptures’. The self-taught artist’s sculptural process is intimate and primitive, using a box cutter to carve individual grooves. He scours museum specimen collections, selecting and photographing birds whose paper tags reveal the hidden history of people, places, or species. Spencer hides an illustration of these tags on the reverse of each corresponding macrosculpture.
Marcos’ intention with his sculpture was to catch the power of the gorilla through a rough modelling, using a swift move of the tool and a vivid texture. Marcos’ inspiration for this piece came from the shape as a whole, as he looked to capture the very essence of the gorilla in a sculpture.
Marcos Perez is a Spanish sculptor who graduated in Fine Arts at the Seville School. After winning several prizes in Spain, Marcos travelled to London where he worked in a foundry making sculptures for some of the most important artists in the UK. Marcos meanwhile continued to create his own work and developed his skills as figurative sculptor. He is interested in capturing the life and the flesh of every living being.
Bombus Reinigiellus is an endangered bumble bee, native to Europe. By using pink and purple watercolours with raised gold acrylic, Rachel McPhail’s painting seeks to capture the delicate nature of the the individual bees whilst combining the complexity and movement of the swarm as they act together.
Rachel is a London based artist who is interested in trying to capture the beauty of wildlife, with a particular interest in painting animals with bold patterns and colouring. Through the use of changing tones and simplified forms, Rachel is currently focused on trying to provide a sense of movement and life in her paintings. She uses a range of mediums, including acrylic and watercolour, in combination with a raised gold acrylic paint to create a textured effect and to add dimension to her pieces.
In her delicately portrayed drawing Cornelia Bohme recalls how she saw this beautiful speckled bird everywhere she went in Namibia! Her fascination of their ubiquitous presence proved the inspiration for her artwork.
Cornelia Bohme lives and works in Bad Liebenstein, Germany. A self taught artist and a member of the German Watercolour Society, she regularly takes part in international competitions and exhibitions. Cornelia has had an absolute love and enthusiasm for the animal world since her childhood.
Lieze Meyer observes that we tend to be more aware of the big mammals that are facing extinction. With this oil painting on canvas Lieze wanted to highlight a lesser recognised member on the Critically Endangered List, the White Headed Vulture. Her dramatic composition contrasts the small vulture against the larger non-endangered marabou stork as the vulture fights for it’s rights, and Lieze hopes her painting will help to highlight it’s endangered status.
Lieze Meyer has a BA graphic design degree but has pursued painting in oils for the past 15 years. Lieze aims to capture a fleeting moment whilst telling a story through her art. Shape, movement and mood are all elements which drive her to create from her studio in the wilderness in Zambia where she currently lives. By creating these wildlife images, she strives to make her audience aware of the beauty hidden within the more unknown and not so often painted creatures of this planet.
Ratna Sari’s highly detailed drawing in graphite on Strathmore heavyweight paper, is an observed rendering of the endangered rhino. Ratna hopes that this drawing will raise awareness that rhino numbers have dropped to an estimated all time low of c.27,000.
Ratna is a wildlife illustrator from Seattle, WA. She grew up reading illustrated books about animals and fell in love with visual art. Ratna feels her creativity is best expressed using graphite pencil. After a break of some years, Ratna was reunited with her love of drawing during the global pandemic of 2020. She concentrates on creating visual depth by applying contrast and capturing details, and with each pencil stroke she aims to tell stories of her subjects. It is Ratna’s hope that her artwork will capture the viewer’s attention and inspire a passion for safeguarding our wildlife.
Through his bronze sculptures, Stephane’s aim is to express the strength, movement and spirit of freedom that the animals emanate, which is aptly demonstrated by the curved motion of this powerful big cat ‘Black Panther’.
Originally from a mountain village in Corsica, Stephane Deguilhen has been fascinated by the wild animals that he has observed since his childhood. After initially studying physics and chemistry, his passion led him to become a sculptor and artist. Through his sculptures, Stephane tries to express the strength, the movement and the spirit of freedom that these wild animals emit.
Shoji Terada feels that a herd of wild elephants can both inspire and heal us. In this painting he has used simple lines to express the beauty of the elephants in an abstract way. At the same time Shoji has expressed the impermanent beauty of the elephants through the use of grainy colours, implying the importance of continuous wildlife conservation efforts.
Shoji Terada is a painter, animal lover, and conservationist. Since being fascinated by wildlife during his honeymoon in South Africa in 2014, Shoji has launched STM STUDIO with his wife Momoko, and has passionately created artworks that combines the beauty and adorableness of wildlife with the importance of conservation. Today, he provides his art and designs to about 50 organisations and activists in about 20 countries to raise awareness and help them raise funds.
Detlef Tibax’s artwork ‘Duma’ is a dramatic drawing of a female cheetah surrounded by the warm afternoon colours of the bushveld. The inspiration behind this piece came from a cheetah relocation Detlef attended in South Africa in 2018, the event being part of a larger reintroduction programme in some national parks near Hoedspruit.
Detlef is an award-winning wildlife artist and the founder of Art 4 Conservation, a Belgian charity devoted to raising funds for wildlife conservation through art. Having graduated with a degree in marine biology, Detlef’s passion for the natural world and love for art have been defining factors throughout his life. His hopes are to reconnect people to nature and raise awareness on the environmental challenges the world is facing today.
The synergy of cultural and environmental narratives inspired Nickolaas Willems to create this large artwork. It represents the resilience and endurance of a Jewish family that found refuge within this tree during WW2. Nickolaas uses wood and fire (representing life and destruction) to burn and scrape his art pieces, using wooden panels as his canvas; heat and sandpaper as a brush of paint. This is part of a 20-tree series project, highlighting trees worldwide with their unique story and relevance.
Nickolaas Willems (1989) is a double educated Dutch artist. Working in a unique manner, within the representational field, Nickolaas uses the primitive medium of wood and fire to burn and scrape his art pieces into reality. A technique in which large wooden panels serve as his canvas, he utilises heat and sandpaper as paint. This time-intensive process requires extraordinary patience and focus by working with the natural lines of each wooden panel to create pieces that preserve the natural beauty of the material. Willems’ work explores themes of transience and time, reminding us of the impermanence of life while honouring the enduring beauty of the environment.
Penel Kirk’s sepia-toned mixed media piece was inspired by the plight of these highly trafficked, exquisite and endangered creatures. In her painting Penel has depicted the pangolin going about his business with no threat to anyone or anything. Penel chose to paint the pangolin on a simple background so as not to detract from the beauty and complexity of the scales and delicate face.
Penel Kirk studied fashion and textile design at St Martin’s School of Art in the 1980’s and worked as a textile designer until 2000 when she started working as a fine artist alongside her commercial work. Based in her Cotswold studios, Penel works in acrylic, watercolour pencil, liquid graphite and gouache to create her mixed media animal portraits. As a wildlife artist Penel feels passionately that her work can help to highlight the plight of the thousands of endangered species and, through donations from sales of the artwork, she can help support the vital conservation work of DSWF.
Iryna Khort’s dramatic painting ‘Raven’s Revelation’ shows a raven witnessing the dawn as the messenger of truth after a dark time. It’s sharp gaze draws us in, prompting contemplation of what it has seen and will reveal. Iryna likes to think that the bird reminds us that even in the darkest of times, hope exists for a new beginning.
Iryna Khort is a wildlife artist capturing the wonders of nature through vibrant oil paintings using the alla prima (‘at first attempt’) technique whereby wet paint is applied to wet paint, often producing work in one sitting. With over six years of dedication, her focus lies in portraying the natural world, drawing inspiration from birds, people, and the beauty of nature itself. Iryna’s art conveys the essence of freedom and boundless expression embodied by birds, reflecting a profound appreciation for life’s richness. Through her impressions, she brings delight to collectors and friends, fostering a deep appreciation for wildlife and motivating others to cherish and conserve our natural heritage.
Florence Cadene’s oil painting on linen canvas echoes the colours of a hot, dry and dusty environment. How glad this elephant must have been to find a watering hole to drink at and cool down in.
Born in 1969 and trained at the Ecole Duperre in Paris, Florence Cadene is an accomplished artist. Since 2000 her work has been largely dedicated to wildlife and concentrates on creating emotion, conveyed by a combination of light and texture. Involved in the defence of biodiversity, Florence has been a regular DSWF WAY finalist since 2016.
In Robyn Parker’s dynamic mixed media portrait the artist expresses a desire to create an image that commands presence. It was also her wish to capture the attention of the viewer whilst accurately depicting the behaviour of a tiger.
Robyn Parker is a portrait and wildlife artist who works from her home in Essex. She works predominantly in alcohol inks to create bold and expressive paintings, be they portraits of humans or animals. Robyn endeavours to evoke a sense of character and emotion especially within the eyes of her subjects.
Having both a hot and cool palette, this study by Catherine Ingleby of a Sosian elephant is an exploration of colour and form, while capturing the undeniably substantial weight and power of these animals. This painting was developed from sketches Catherine made in the field at Sosian, Northern Kenya and it was her aim with the painting to focus on the beautiful tones of colour that play across the elephant’s skin as the sun set.
Catherine Ingleby spent several years training as an artist in Paris and Florence, accumulating a solid basis of draughtsmanship on which to base her now instantly recognisable style of dramatic light and movement. Catherine now works full time in her studio in Berkshire, with a plethora of pets that both aid and abet her. She is known for her contemporary take on traditional subjects, and her ability to capture the fleeting sense of movement in her work.
The aim of Raul Orvieto with this artwork is to put under the spotlight the cruelty of shark finning, where sharks are hunted, their fin sliced off and the still living body then discarded, often back into the ocean. Raul’s work draws on the symbolism of bloody money, which rests like a heavy tombstone on the official red list of sharks that are declared endangered.
Raul Orvieto is a wildlife artist and signature member of the American Society of Animal Artists. He mainly sculpts and paints aquatic animals. Raul’s work has been repeatedly published in national and international magazines, and he has been a guest on Italian television. He exhibits permanently in Italian national museums and recently, due to his artistic commitment to the protection of the sea, the representation in Italy of the European Commission has dedicated a personal exhibition to him on marine plastic pollution in its institutional spaces in Rome.
‘Look Alike’ by Annika Thomsen is a colourful gouache painting of a king penguin colony. Annika observes that hundred of thousands of penguins form gigantic colonies and, even though they look to man almost identical, there is always the one ‘significant other’ waiting for the partner to come home after hunting for food to provide their little family.
Annika Thomsen is a self-taught watercolour artist located in the very North of Denmark. Her daily job as marine biologist and animal trainer in a public aquarium is a big part of the inspirational process of creating new artworks. Even though watercolour is Annika’s medium of choice, she likes to explore other media such as gouache, acrylic and linoleum print. Annika has previously been shortlisted for the final of the DSWF Wildlife Artist of the Year in 2020 and 2022.
