Last week I visited the annual SWLA exhibition. I enjoyed it as much as ever and I recommend it to you if you have a spare half an hour or more in central London over the next few days.
Of course, there were some works that I liked a lot more than others – the one above by Greg Poole was one of my favourites (but it doesn’t have to be one of yours – there are plenty to choose from).
Artists are incredibly clever aren’t they? There was a painting of Linnets that made the nasty little critters look rather wonderful (by Kim Atkinson).
I also noticed Nick Derry‘s work for the first time with Pagney in Spring and Summer Curlew Sandpiper being paintings in front of which I stood for quite a while.
I know Dafila Scott from ages ago, and I have always liked her work, but I didn’t realise that Crimson-breasted Shrike, Kalahari, Pair of Bat-eared Foxes foraging at sundown or Starlings in the garden, fleeting visit late summer were her work until I checked the labels. And best of all was the oil painting Wildebeest at dusk.
See here for a review of the book produced by the SWLA last year.
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As a Friend of the SWLA, I’ve been going to the preview of their annual exhibition for many years Mark, though missed out this year. The exhibition is always a delight and, in the main, the prices are not exorbitant.
I would urge anyone to become a friend and support this fine group of artists:
( http://swla.co.uk/wp-swla/membership/ ).
It doesn’t cost much, you get interesting newsletters and an invite to their very tasty buffet ahead of the speeches and award giving ceremonies on the preview day. Well worth it.
Nick
I also enjoyed this exhibition. I can’t recall a favourite (or even the prices) but it was interesting to see the work undertaken by artists on behalf of the BTO in Senegal (Artists in Africa project of which the Greg Poole work is one). We were accosted by Harriet Mead whilst looking at this particular display and she explained the rationale behind this project which did make a lot of sense. It was certainly odd to see ‘our’ birds painted next to a warthog or some other exotic species.
Thanks for the mention Mark. Every year the work in the Out of the Frame room encapsulates how art and conservation can link and the BTO project is a spectacular example. We will have more work on show next year showing the migrants in their UK summer breeding grounds.
Nick, hope you didn’t mind being accosted! To add to your lovely plug about becoming a Friend of the SWLA we now have a great programme of events including day long printmaking workshops and talks. I’m giving a talk tomorrow 3pm at the Mall Galleries about my work and the amazing experience of learning to dive thanks to the Wildlife Trusts Diving Bursary which is now relaunched http://www.wildlifetrusts.org/undersea-art-award
Harriet – people would queue up to be accosted by you. Thank you for your comment.