Artist 1John BonavichJohn Banovich is an American oil painter known internationally for his large, dramatic portrayals of iconic wildlife. Today, Banovich’s work can be found in museum, corporate and private collections.

Born in Butte, Montana, Banovich emerged as a talent to watch two decades ago when his paintings were selected “Best of Show” two consecutive years at the Pacific Rim Art Expo, then the premier showcase for wildlife art in the world. Since then, Banovich’s work has appeared in many prestigious venues, including the Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum’s Birds in Art show, the Hiram Blauvelt Art Museum, the Salmagundi Club, traveling exhibitions sponsored by the Society of Animal Artists and showcases hosted by Safari Club International and Dallas Safari Club.

Artist 2Nick Mackman

Nick Mackman is an award winning sculptor of ceramic and bronze animal sculptures. She has been widely exhibited and in 2012 she was Overall Runner-up and Go Wild Category Winner in the Wildlife Artist of the Year competition. She won the Open Category in 2010.

Her animal sculptures have found home with, amongst others, John Cleese, Dame Judi Dench, Chris Packham, David Shepherd and Vicountess Serena Linley. She has been commissioned by British Airways and the Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition (pictured below with Sir David Attenborough).

Artist 3Barbara Franc

“I attended Morley College of Art in the late 70s where I studied Life drawing under Maggie Hambling and John Bellany. In the late 80s I attended Richmond College to study Sculpture under Avril Vellacott, but the most influential of my mentors is Mary Orrom, an inspired and inspiring sculptor, based in Great Missenden, Bucks.”

“I have always been fascinated by the shapes and sculptural forms of animals, they present a never-ending source of inspiration to me. I try to capture a feeling of their movement and presence in my sculpture. For this I use wire and other materials in a way that suggests drawing in three dimensions. This allows me greater freedom to add changes whenever I want during the construction to keep the feeling fluid and to reflect the diversity of movement and form.”

Artist 4Jonathan knight

In the work of Jonathan Knight we find the characteristic life spark of his subjects caught and held in bronze.

Having been a professional sculptor for nearly thirty years, Jonathan Knight is widely recognised as one of the leading wildlife and equestrian artists of his generation.

Early on, he established his reputation with lifesize bronzes of Dawn Run at Cheltenham Racecourse and of Music Boy at Cheveley Park Stud, Newmarket.

A life lived in the countryside of Sussex has brought about a connection with nature, expressed in his sculpture of wild animals and birds. In these,he pares away surface detail to concentrate on form.

Artist 5Chris shields

Award winning artist and wildlife illustrator Chris Shields graduated from Northwich College of Art and Design in the UK in 1973.In 1983 after a short career in the commercial art world he followed his passion for wildlife and became a self-employed wildlife artist and illustrator.

Chris is now regarded as one of the worlds leading natural history illustrators has produced to date in excess of thirty thousand wildlife illustrations in over 300 books, numerous calendars, greeting cards, posters and jigsaw puzzles. He has exhibited his paintings widely in the UK and China and has paintings in public and private collections all over the world.As a wildlife artist & illustrator he has work published or displayed by many organizations and companies

Artist 6Brin edwards

I took a degree in art at the Central School of Art and Design in London (now Central St. Martin’s) and have spent many years working in graphic design and marketing. After a few years of doing commissions in my spare time, in 2010 I decided to become a full time animal artist. My memberships include the Marwell International Wildlife Art Society, the Association of Animal Artists, the Society of Feline Artists and The Wildlife Artists Society International.

I work exclusively in high quality pastels which give both a softness and an intensity of colour and I use archival quality materials. You can see an example of how a pastel portrait is created.