I am artist of the day on the Artists for Conservation website:
http://www.natureartists.com/artists/
With New Year fast approaching I have decided to act on my resolution to update my blog more regularly. Since my last post in November I have been very busy.
I have completed a new mural for the Axe Estuary Wetlands (see below), it is not been put up yet, but it will be in the new year. It is an underwater scene of the wildlife of the estuary, lots of fish drawings etc, I can now tell a Sea Trout from a Salmon! It also shows some wildlife above the waterline as well, particularly pleased with the Osprey.
During the last month or so I have also been working on a fund raising interpretation panel for the Exe Estuary Partnership, below are some of the illustrations from this brief.
I have just finished my first oil painting, it’s a straight forward portrait of a Tawny Owl, but I thought it would be a good piece to see how I got on with using a new medium. I really enjoyed the extra drying time that the oils allowed, especially compared to acrylic, and with the use of Liquin I was still able to use the same technique of building up in layers of washes. Spurred on by this I am now underway with a more complex painting of a Greenshank.
Decembers East Devon Coast & Country Magazine is now out, and I have written a double page spread about wildlife in Winter.
I have been asked to join a new website for wildlife artists, http://www.animalegend.com and I am now exhibiting work through whitepeaks fine art as well.
Just got the book through for this years Artists for Conservation exhibition, I have got two pieces in the book, both have printed well and again the standard in the book is incredibly high!
I have been booked in to do some more art classes at the Axe Estuary Wetlands in June and I am contemplating running a few courses of my own as there seems to be a lot of interest.
‘Little Owl in an Ancient Olive’ and ‘Dusk on the Spanish Plains’ are now open to view on the Artists for Conservation virtual exhibition.
http://www.artistsforconservation.org/virtual-exhibit/curators-tour
The Little Owl drawing is also taking part in the exhibition in Canada.
In the Shade of an Olive has been chosen for the Royal West of England 2011 Open Exhibition and today is the opening day! Unfortunately I can’t make the preview but will hopefully get up to Bristol to see the exhibition next month, it runs until the new Year.
Just dropped off ‘Ravens – Dartmoor’ for the South West Arts exhibition at Exeter Castle. Off to Bristol on Friday for the final selection for the Royal West of England Academy exhibition, I’ve been lucky enough to have all three of my entries go through the first selection – so fingers crossed!!
Ravens – Dartmoor
Latest issue of East Devon Coast & Country is now out!
Heading down the gallery later to get ready for the start of my exhibition tomorrow. All very exciting!
Just got back from exhibiting at this years Bird Fair where I shared a stall with the talented airbrush artist Carl Thompson:
http://www.airartbycarl.co.uk/
I had a great time, with my wildlife mandala prints creating a lot of interest, including my British Butterfly Mandala which I only got back from the printers last week.
My Avon Wildlife Trust illustration is nearly finished, it is drawn in a similar style to a previous illustration I did for them last year.
http://www.mikehugheswildlifeart.co.uk/illustration/grassland.php
New AWT illustration
Just been down at the field studies base on the Axe Estuary Wetlands helping to put in place the first of my murals – very happy with the results!
