Virtual Wildlife Artist of the Year Exhibition 2021

I am very pleased to have had my recent carving “A Beautiful Dilemma” selected as a finalist for this years David Shepherd Wildlife Artist of the Year competition. This piece is one of my most ambitious pieces to be carved from birch plywood, which is certainly not the easiest material to work with.

My inspiration for this sculpture came from an encounter I had many years ago. I was free diving on the Great Barrier Reef, Australia, and came across a stunningly beautiful black variety of lionfish (on which “A Beautiful Dilemma” is based). I even managed to take a photograph of it with my very basic, 35mm underwater camera (it was over 30 years ago!!). I didn’t get too close, as some of the spines are poisonous as part of its defensive system. In more recent years, the lionfish has become an invasive species in some parts of the world, which has made it more than just a problem in terms of how to approach it.

All of the shortlisted artworks, chosen by the expert panel of judges, will be exhibited in a bespoke virtual gallery from Tuesday 25 May 2021. Well worth a look, as there are always some wonderful offerings from a range of talented artists.