October 1997. David Felber, a video producer/director, contacted me with a "wild" idea of making a
video
documentary about my drawings and my life. Just over a year later, thanks to his vision, professionalism and generosity (he wanted to make it to raise money for
EIA
and
Born Free
, with no monetary gain for himself) it's in the can!
5th December 1998: The premier screening of the video was held at the Nature in Art Museum , Twigworth, Gloucester. The money raised by the sale of the video was divided between Born Free and EIA.
6th December 1998: The video went on general sale and should be available from any gallery/framing shop that sells my limited edition prints and also from the EIA . (contact Jo on 0171 490 7040) and Born Free (contact Trish on 0140 324 0170). The video costs £19.95 of which all profits will go to Born Free and EIA . I'm really pleased with the project. The real cost of the production should of been around £50,000 but with contacts, generous folk and freebies, it's been made, to the same high quality, but at a fraction of the cost. The main core of the video is an informal interview/conversation between my friend Rula Lenska and myself. Rula managed to put me at ease (almost!), asked some great questions and gave 110%. The interview is interspersed with celebrity interviews (Jilly Goolden, Jenny Seagrove, Sally Gunnell, Virginia McKenna and Michaela Strachan) Interviews with key people in my professional life, montages of drawings set to music (nearly 100 shown in total) footage of my research trips and a sequence of me drawing a crocodile head. This is the only way you'll ever really see me draw!
December 1998: Three drawings published as limited edition prints "Crowning glory" (Sable antelope), "Preening Partners" (Jackass penguins preening) and "Dreamtime" (Ring-tailed lemur asleep).
1998: "Supreme" , my sleeping Siberian tiger drawing sold at Christies for £16,215!!
December/January: For anyone who brought my "Jaff" limited edition print you may be interested to know that there was a lovely, full page article on Jaff and Bish in the December/January issue of Dogs Today magazine.
February 1999: Two drawings published as limited edition prints "Hippo" (Hippo in water), "Balancing Act" (Jackass penguin).
6th - 11th April 1999: Was this years time slot for my annual artist in residency at Nature in Art Museum
28th April 1999: A number of the World's best wildlife artists came together in aid of Tigers, Rhinos and Elephants. They each donated an original painting/drawing auctioned at Christies, South Kensington, London. The list read like a who's, who of wildlife art - David Shepherd, Robert Bateman, Alan Hunt, John Seerey-Lester, Carl Brenders and many, many more. This was an incredibly successful event, raising over £220 000 to help Tigers, Rhinos and Elephants. Unfortunately, due to my commitment to my next solo show (more about that later) I was unable to give an original but, put a framed copy of "The Charge" limited edition print into the auction, which raised £900.
21st July 1999: This is the date for the private viewing day of the annual Society of Wildlife Artists held at the Mall Galleries, London. The Private Viewing runs from 2pm - 8pm and will be officially opened by Ken Livingstone MP. For an invitation contact the Mall Galleries on 0171 930 6844. The exhibition will display over 500 pieces of art by over 100 different artists and is open 10am - 5pm until 6th August. I will have a number of limited edition prints for sale.
Late 1999: The crocodile mentioned, was planned to be completed by the end of last year, but it proved too much! I reckon by the time I put the finishing touches on the last scale on the tail it will have taken around 300 hours - by far the longest I've ever spent on a drawing. I'm really pleased with it so far. Head done, just 7ft of body, legs and tail to go!! It will be published as two limited edition prints when finished, one reduced down to about 3 1/2 feet of the whole drawing and a second edition that will be a detail of just the head. This print will more or less be the same part of the image as portrayed in the the video and about the same size as the original work, conveying the hugeness of the drawing.
November 2000: I really do plan to have my next solo show in the year 2000. By around December 1999 I'll be able to say for definite when it's going to be.
Future drawings: After the massive crocodile drawing, I intend concentrating on a orangutan piece. I had an amazing time in Borneo in August 98. (You'll be able to see for yourself if you buy the video !!) and can't wait to draw these wonderful, gentle animals. "Orangutans" should be either a autumn or early 2000 release. The next drawing after that will be from my 1995 Nepal trip. I witnessed a very special scene with three Asian elephants bathing. They had such a look of sheer bliss on their faces, trunks thrashing, ears flapping and water splashing everywhere. It will be a fun drawing to do. Other drawings planned for the future include, a Polar Bear, an Arabian Oryx , Hippos basking in the midday sun, two Cheetahs touching noses, a Badger, Grevys Zebra foal suckling, Snow and Clouded leopards, a Roe deer portrait and a Common Toad! Another drawing already completed that I will have reproduced as a limited edition print is a picture of a group of Scimitar Horned Oryx.
At the moment I'm experiencing some problems with my right arm, probably a form of repetitive strain injury. I believe the injury has been caused, not by too much drawing, but, with all the signing and numbering that I've done over the recent years. I've been recommended by my Doctor to rest the arm for a while, so, any plans are dependant on the healing of my injury, which is improving by the week.
I've talked about producing a book on my drawings for a while now - and it will happen, I'm not sure when! The actual process of compiling and designing it alone will take three to four months. If my injury plays up for a while yet then I will start very soon, but if, as I hope, my arm clears up pronto then I'll concentrate on my new drawings.
List of pictures
Thumbnails of pictures
Pictures availible
Fareham Framing Centre: 01329 231421
Errors and Omissions Excepted. Last updated 9 Feb 2003