Pollyanna Pickering Foundation – Press Release : 23/09/21
Ben Fogle Picks a Winner!
TV Presenter, writer and intrepid adventurer Ben Fogle joined TWASI Patron Anna-Louise Pickering, President of the Pollyanna Pickering Foundation, to draw the winning ticket in their Summer prize draw.
Ben Fogle is a Presenter, Writer and Adventurer. His achievements include racing 160 miles across the Sahara desert in the notorious Marathon Des Sables. He has rowed the Atlantic Ocean in 49 days and crossed Antarctica in a foot race to the South Pole. He has presented numerous programmes including BBC’s Animal Park, Wild In Africa, Countryfile, Crufts, One Man and His Dog and Extreme Dreams. He also acts as an ambassador for WWF, Medcins Sans Frontier and Tusk, and is a fellow of the Royal Geographical Society.
Anna-Louise said “Pollyanna was renowned as an artist-traveller, famous for painting endangered species from life in their natural habitats, and Ben is also known for his intrepid expeditions, so it seemed very appropriate that he should pick our lucky winner this year!”
Between the sales of prize draw tickets, donations and a percentage of sales from the Brush With Pandas exhibition held in Pollyanna’s private gallery in June the Foundation has raised £13500.00 to fund the ongoing care of their moon bear Polly, who was rescued from the unspeakably cruel bear bile trade, and now lives in a sanctuary in Vietnam. Part of the money will also help begin construction of a brand new sanctuary to house more rescued bears.
Mrs A Jackson of Sheffield is the lucky winner of an original sketch of pandas completed during Pollyanna’s first expedition into China. A full list of winners, and information about the Foundation’s work can be found at www.pollyannapickering.co.uk
For further information please contact Anna-Louise 07957 158311 annalouise@w3z.net
Pollyanna Pickering was recognised as one of Europe’s foremost wildlife artists – her critically acclaimed paintings and fine art prints sell in over eighty countries world wide. Driven by the beauty and intricacy of the wilderness, she was renowned for her travels into some of the most remote parts of the world, where she painted endangered species in their increasingly fragile habitats. She was patron of The Wildlife Art Society International, and Derby University awarded her an honorary degree in recognition of her outstanding achievements in the arts. A familiar face on TV, the most recent documentary about her work ‘Made in England’ was broadcast on BBC1.
The Pollyanna Pickering Foundation : Established in 2000 by Wildlife Artist Pollyanna Pickering and her daughter Anna-Louise the Foundation is a small but effective non-profit organisation which campaigns internationally to prevent the exploitation of wildlife and raises funds to support animal welfare and conservation projects worldwide.
For further background information about Pollyanna and her Foundation visit www.pollyannapickering.co.uk
Obituary
Avril Shepherd
It is with great sadness that we announce the death of Avril Shepherd, wife of the late David Shepherd and extraordinary family matriarch, who enabled much of her husband David’s success as both an artist and conservationist. Avril worked tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure David’s work, clients and Foundation were looked after with grace, kindness and quiet determination.
Avril was a Trustee of David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation (DSWF) for over 12 years between 2003 and 2015. She was a lifelong friend and guiding light to so many of DSWF’s wonderful conservation partners, friends and supporters.
Whilst Avril dazzled internationally at prestigious art galleries and events alongside David, she was just as much at home in nature and the wilderness of Africa. She calmly entertained the often wild and wonderful ideas which took her, David and their family to far flung corners of the world. She was a fierce advocate in her own unwavering way for conservation and for all those who fought for the places and species she loved. Many of us remember her for her warm welcomes and generous hospitality as she supported the work of DSWF.
Despite an adventurous life, Avril treasured quiet family time above all else and, with David, leaves a lasting legacy of children, grandchildren and great grandchildren who she inspired to respect and fight for the natural world.
Chris King
The TWASI council is very sad to announce the death of member Chris King in August. He was an active member helping out at the Annual Exhibition and always ready to lend a hand when asked. He has not been in the best of health for a while and we have missed his company when setting up the Annual Exhibition over the last few years.
Chris was a self taught artist specializing in wildlife, land and seascape paintings.
He was evacuated from London to Wiltshire during the height of the V1 bombing raids during World War ll and this led to a an on-going affinity for the countryside that continued to influence is artwork for the rest of his life.
Having retired after successfully running his own business he was able to indulge his lifelong interest in painting. Over the years he developed his own distinctive style inspired by the Realism School of Art.
After moving to the Cotswolds in 2009 he became an active member of the Julia Christie’s Studio Artists Group in Stroud and joined TWASI.
He exhibited at the National Fine Arts and Antiques Fair at the NEC in Birmingham and the Edinburgh Art Fair. He also exhibited in local Cotswold exhibitions.
The experience of a safari to Zimbabwe during 1995, that included visits to Hwange National Park, the Zambezi River and Victoria Falls, has proved to be a powerful influence on his art. As a result he has carried out a number of studies relating to animals he encountered during the visit.
Roy Emmins Obituary
One of our oldest members Roy sadly passed away on the 14th of July. He had a very short illness, didn’t suffer and died with his friends around him.
Roy was a dedicated sculptor of animal wild life who is fired by his concern for the natural world. He had over thirty years experience of drawing, modelling and carving in wood and stone. His more elaborate works of recent times are carvings of animal environments that show complete habitats and multiple numbers of animals and plants within the same environment. This involves ingenuity in the composition also considerable skill and time in the making. The overall effect of this type of carving is to engage the viewer in a journey of discovery and admiration of the craftsmanship.
Roy had sustained his passion as a wildlife artist over the years and his work has proven to be of great interest to those who see it.
Roy lived in the East End of London and studied at The Sir John Cass College of Art for over ten years. He has exhibited work in galleries such as The Sladmore in Bruton Street, London W1 and The Century at Henley-on Thames.
He won The Best in Show award when he joined The Wildlife Arts Society in1994. M.C.LEMAN. tutor
REFLECTIONS of the BIOSPHERE- Exhibition at The Brady Arts Centre Nov 2009 Inspired by his love of nature, Roy Emmins worked across a variety of media in his quest to portray the complexity of nature and the movements of animals. From the mid-1980s his work evolved from drawing and painting into working with papier-mâché, clay for ceramics and other modelling for bronze casting and into stone and wood carving..
More recently, an interest in reclaimed materials led to the use of table-tops as a unique base layer upon which to carve and model. Whilst working mostly from memory and imagination he maintains to capture the realism of the moment.
Curtsey of Jill Fullbrook
Memories of Roy from TWASI member Juliet Collins
I knew Roy very well when worked in Whitechapel hospital as a porter and my ex husband (who worked there too) introduced us because Roy showed him some of his artwork and he couldn’t believe his talent. Roy started to attend my pottery classes in east London and came for many years and I introduced him to the society. He didn’t drive so I would often take him and his work to exhibitions in the early days. His first exhibition with the society (I think in the Barns in Kent?) unsurprisingly he won an award I think for a huge wood carving of a coral reef.
I would often visit him at his top floor flat near the hospital that was crammed full of sculptures he had made over many years ranging from large wooden detailed pieces, marble and paint mache to little foil creatures that filled every gap in his small flat. The flat had a rooftop balcony, also full of sculptures in many different mediums. He loved cats and had one or two most of the time. He would often talk about them and I believe he also had rabbits on his balcony at one point.
Roy was so passionate about art in all forms and was always experimenting with new materials. He was passionate about equal rights for people and all life and the planet in general. He was a wonderful gentle man.
Once I had children and moved to the island I wasn’t involved in the society so we hardly saw each other. We kept in touch with Xmas cards mostly and in recent years Face book. He never mentioned his illness so it was a shock to see he had died but it sounded swift fortunately.
He was such a lovely, gentle and talented man. I know it’s a cliché but I’m sure he will be hugely missed in his local community and beyond.
Keith Aston Obituary
The TWASI Council are sorry to report that Keith Aston passed away in hospital on 25th July after sustaining a fall in his beloved garden a few weeks earlier. Keith was a member of TWASI and enjoyed his visits to see the artwork at Nature in Art. He really enjoyed painting and was inspired by other members’ creations. He had a lovely art space set up in his conservatory and often had numerous works in progress.
A memory from John Horton
I’m so sorry to hear this very sad news. Keith loved being part of TWASI and was always pleased to be able to show us work that had created. I had a long chat to him when he visited the exhibition at the end of May and he seemed in good spirits. In 2019 he helped out with the stewarding selling raffle tickets.
TWASI pass on our condolences to his family and friends
Lord Bath (The 7th Marquess of Bath)
Born in 1932 the colourful Lord Bath (The 7th Marquess of Bath) was educated at Eton. Art was a major influence on the young Alexander Thynn (Viscount Weymouth 1946) having studied under Wilfred Blunt, Oliver Thomas & Gerald Leet at Eton, he later went to Paris and the art scene of the ‘Left Bank’. Here in the early fifties Lord Bath studied at the Academia Ranson under Roger Chastel and Henri Goetz and at the Academia Julien under Andre Planson.
During many years of living and working at Longleat the then Viscount Weymouth was able to develop his art and also took up writing, his first published novel being ‘The Carry-Cot’ (published by W.H.Allen).
In 1992, on the death of his father, Viscount Weymouth became the 7th Marquess of Bath and took over complete control of Longleat. Lord Bath was Patron of many societies and organisations and has ensured that Longleat has stayed at the forefront of animal conservation.
The members of TWASI are sad to say goodbye to our long standing patron Lord Bath, we extend our sincere condolences to all his family.
DR. DAME DAPHNE SHELDRICK DBE
Read our full tribute to Daphne
For those wishing to make a donation to commemorate, and celebrate, Daphne’s life and help The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust continue to protect the wild lives Daphne loved so much, please click here – Thank you.
A book of condolence will be left at the DSWT’s Nairobi Orphanage from Sunday 15th April for those wishing to pay their respects and available to those visiting the Trust when it is open to the public daily between 11am and 12 noon. For those overseas, an online book of condolences will shortly be available via our website and, to anyone wishing to send a message before the book is online, please contact our Kenyan team here.
The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust| +44 (0) 1372 378 321 |email us
POLLYANNA PICKERING – 2018
We have been shocked and saddened to hear that Pollyanna Pickering has died after a short illness.
Pollyanna was a friend and member of The Wildlife Art Society International for many years, and a generous Patron of the Society, handing out our Awards at most of our Annual Exhibitions
She was an award-winning internationally famous wildlife artist, and an energetic worker for the conservation of wildlife. Her many expeditions to all corners of the globe gave her an insight into the critically endangered species which she loved to depict in
her paintings. Her dedicated conservation work formed the core of the Pollyanna Pickering Foundation, which will stand as her lasting legacy.
We extend our condolences and sympathies to her daughter Anna-Louise and her family at this very sad time.
Pollyanna will be sadly missed by all.
Sarais Crawshaw – TWASI Chairwoman
DAVID SHEPHERD CBE. 1931 – 2017
We heard with great sadness of the death of David Shepherd, wildlife artist, outspoken conservationist, and founder of the David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation charity.
David was a Patron of TWASI for many years until his health declined, and he attended many events, always showing great interest in the Society’s artists and our conservation ethic. He was a genuinely gregarious man, very generous with his time.
One of the methods he used to raise funds was to donate his own artwork, inspiring many other wildlife artists to do the same for conservation causes.
I can remember many auctions of wildlife art that he arranged at Christies, and with David himself as the Auctioneer, what hilarious – but profitable – evenings they were!
The David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation that he founded supports far-reaching projects for the conservation of endangered mammals, and also supports both the wildlife Rangers and the indigenous rural communities.
David drew the public’s attention by illustrated talks over many years, and I am sure he inspired thousands not only to see the value of conservation, but also to appreciate the genre of wildlife art.
The link between these is the way in which we can all give something back to the animals that we love to depict.
David will be sorely missed, but I am sure that the David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation will ensure that his legacy lives on.
Sarais Crawshaw – TWASI Chairwoman
The council of The Wildlife Art Society International has great pleasure in announcing the election of a new Honorary Fellow Member John Horton. The decision to award this honorary membership is taken on account of the dedication to and work done on behalf TWASI by this member over a number of years. All members of the council are un paid volunteers who devote much of their time to work on your behalf, to organise and run the Society as efficiently as possible.
The Wildlife Art Society International 