THE WILDLIFE ART SOCIETY INTERNATIONAL NEWSLETTER JANUARY 2026
Wishing all TWASI Members a very Happy New Year!
Our Annual Exhibition is coming up in May, Members’ Weekend in October, Spring Online Magazine, Day Visits around the country, & a Summer Competition – I’m sure it will be a productive and sociable year!
Sarais Crawshaw
ANNUAL EXHIBITION, NATURE IN ART, GLOUCESTER.
Exhibition Registration and Entry Forms will be available online from early February.
Any enquiries, or for Forms by post if required, please contact Bridget at: twasiart@gmail.com
31st January – 14th March – Registration.
1st – 7th April – Payment due. No payments to be sent prior to 1st April 2026.
30th April – Receipt of Entry Forms deadline.
Handing in at NIA – Wednesday 20th & Thursday 21st May 10.30 – 4.00
22nd May – Hanging. Preview 6.00 – 8.30pm.
23rd – 31st May – Exhibition runs 10am – 5pm.
31st May – 10am – 2pm. 2pm Awards Ceremony.
Collection unsold artwork 4pm – 5pm.
The 2026 TWASI Charity is Wildcat Haven UK – www.wildcathaven.com
Their representative Dr Paul O’Donoghue will be officially Opening the Exhibition.
At the Annual Exhibition there will be space each day for Demonstrators, and there’s always a
need for Stewards and willing helpers to set up and take down the Show.
There are plenty of Awards for members’ work at the Annual Exhibition, so get busy!
Please note that as well as our existing security system, we have a security guard on duty during
the run of the Exhibition.
We are still looking for good images for the Exhibition Poster & leaflets – if you have an image of
work you will be entering, please send ASAP to John Horton at: johnhorton47@hotmail.com
We may have another Award Winners Exhibition at Nature in Art in the autumn.
OTHER EXHIBITIONS, OPENS & ART PRIZES IN THE UK 2026.
There are lots of Exhibitions and Art Prizes open to all artists, so why not have a go at some this
year, or take the time to visit and look at other artists’ work, it’s sure to be an interesting and
rewarding experience. Here are just a few – look for others on: www.moma.co.uk
EWA – Exhibition of Wildlife Art (previously NEWA), 24th – 26th July, Gordale, Wirral.
Further details usually available from late January/early February from: www.ewa-uk.com
Southern Nature Art Exhibition, 28th – 31st August, Rookesbury Park, Fareham, Hants.
Details from: www.southernnatureart.com from 11th January Also Art Market.
AAA – Association of Animal Artists, Exhibitions in the North of England, Spring & Autumn.
Exhibition for AAA Members, details on www.associationofanimalartists.com
David Shepherd Wildlife Artist of the Year, Exhibition at Mall Galleries, London, 8th–12th September.
Entries online by 24th March. More details: www.davidshepherd.org
Royal Academy Summer Exhibition, London, 16th June – 23rd August.
Online Entries from 7th January to 11th February. Details from www.summer.royalacademy.org.uk
Society of Wildlife Artists, Mall Galleries, London. October.
www.mallgalleries.org.uk Entries Online usually July – September.
Marwell International Wildlife Art Society Exhibition at Marwell Zoo, 1st – 4th May.
Members only can enter this year. Details from www.themiwas.com
Royal Society of Marine Artists, Mall Galleries, London. Mid to late September.
www.mallgalleries.org.uk Entries online usually by early July.
Jacksons Painting Prize, Affordable Art Fair, London, & Bankside Gallery.
Entries by 11th February. Details from www.jacksonsart.com
Sketch for Survival Competition, Gallery OXO, London September/November
Entries 1st February to 30th June. 2D work A4 or A3 size of endangered species or at-risk
landscape/seascape. Work sold by online auction in aid of Explorers against Extinction projects.
www.explorersagainstextinction.co.uk
NATURE IN ART – TWASI ARTISTS IN RESIDENCE: Full list at – www.natureinart.org.uk
3rd – 8th Feb – Claudia Hahn
24th Feb – 1st March – John Horton
31st March – 5th Apr – Agnese Davies
7th – 12th April – Mandi Baykaa-Murray
14th – 19th April – Karen Coulson
9th – 14th June – David Skidmore
7th – 12th July – Denise Coble
28th July – 2nd August – Neal Griffin
11th – 16th August – Valerie Briggs & Trevor Smith
22nd – 27th September – Jo Powell
LOOK AT TWASI MEMBERS NIA COURSES TOO! Full list at www.natureinart.org.uk
April 13th – Mandi Baykaa-Murray – Linocut Printing.
Jun 27th – Agnese Davies – Needle-felting of a Barn Owl.
July 13th – Karen Coulson – Puma in coloured pencil
July 18th – 19th – John Horton – Watercolours.
October 10th – Karen Coulson – Coloured Pencil Tabby Kitten
October 11th – Karen Coulson – Pheasant
October 12th – Karen Coulson – Badger
SUMMER COMPETITION – A COMPETITION FOR ALL TWASI MEMBERS.
- Entries may be in any media, the wildlife theme for 2026 is: “SUN AND SHADE”
- Entries must be entered as a jpeg image (300dpi, up to 5MB), sent to
saraiscrawshaw@aol.com, or an A4 photograph posted to TWASI, Appletrees, Main Street,
Willey, Rugby CV23 0SH. - Closing date for entries: 1st July 2026.
- Entries will be judged by the TWASI Central Council members, the winning entry will be shown
on the TWASI website and in the following edition of “On the Wildside” Magazine, and if available,
may be exhibited at the following Annual Exhibition. - Prize: £50.
- Maximum entries per member – 2.
“ON THE WILDSIDE” MAGAZINE.
Our Spring Magazine is now taking shape – but we need more from Members, so get your
articles and photos in by 14th February to: france.bauduin@googlemail.com
It’s always interesting to read about Members’ art experiences, art profile, places they’ve visited,
work in progress, techniques or tips, views about Conservation issues, or any exhibitions they’re
planning this year – let us all enjoy them!
Send your written contributions in as a Word document, please, and any photos/pictures as
separate jpegs. Title them all with your name. If space is tight, they may be edited to fit.
The Spring Magazine will be “published” in early March on our website www.twasi.com – unlike the
Autumn edition, this one will not be a printed edition in order to save costs and postage. This
was voted for at our 2023 AGM.
The TWASI Website www.twasi.com, Facebook & Instagram are there for you as a member of
TWASI to advertise your artwork, inform other members what you are up to, and to promote you,
so please make more use of them.
FACEBOOK Visit TWASI’s Facebook page regularly to see what’s going on.
If you’d like to share with other Members your own Exhibitions, what’s going on in your artistic life,
wildlife art work in progress, etc, then either contact Helen Geach: helen.geach@gmail.com, and
she will put in your contributions.
Please send your contributions as a Word document – NOT in an email which would have to be re-typed.
Or – if you are a member of the “TWASI Private Members Facebook Group”, you can put in your
contributions yourself. If you are not yet a Member of this new group, contact Helen Geach, our
Social Media & Website manager for an invitation.
USE IT OR LOSE IT – ONLINE GALLERY www.twasi.com/twasi-online-gallery-2026/
We have a great page on the TWASI website that showcases member’s work, and after the first
registration fee of £10 there is no cost to you for 4 ORIGINAL images. You can replace them at
any time afterwards for FREE. All we ask is that you keep an eye on the page over the year. If you
sell anything anywhere whilst it is on the TWASI website, please give us a 5% commission to
cover admin costs. If you wish to replace images contact: valeriebriggs1@outlook.com
(Images by: Sarais Crawshaw, Roy Aplin, Kate Smith, Sandy Bell, John Horton, Valerie Briggs.
If you are on the Gallery, you will be featured from time to time on the main TWASI Facebook
page and also Instagram.
THE WILDLIFE ART SOCIETY INTERNATIONAL – DAY VISITS 2026.
Please do wear your Membership Badges – it helps newer Members to get to know you!
SLIMBRIDGE GET-TOGETHER – Sunday 18th January.
MIDDLETON LAKES RSPB, Tamworth, Staffs. B78 2BB – Sunday 22nd March
www.rspb.org.uk
Lakes, rivers & canal, wetlands, woodland. Walks. Many waterbirds, possibly otters. Large Heronry.
Café & toilets in courtyard of Middleton Hall. Dogs on leads.
STANWICK LAKES, Stanwick, Northants. NN9 6GY – Sunday 26th April.
www.stanwicklakes.org.uk
750 acres nature reserve, with many waterfowl, waders, possibly muntjac deer, otters, owls. Should be mating behaviour at this time, possibly young. Walks. Bird Hides, Visitor centre, café.
Parking all day £6.90 cash/card.
SLIMBRIDGE WWT, Slimbridge, Glos. GL2 7BT – Sunday 17th May.
www.wwt.org.uk
Another visit to this centre in spring, with mating, young, & plenty of breeding birds to be watched.
Adults £20.85 (Gift Aid), Seniors £18.65 (Gift Aid) WWT Members free. Save 10% on prices by booking online.
NEWPORT WETLANDS RSPB, West Nash Rd, Newport. NP18 2BZ – Sunday 21 June.
www.rspb.org.uk
Nationally important RSPB reserve overlooking Severn estuary. 438 hectares reedbed, saltmarsh, saline lagoons & lowland wet grassland. Might see bearded tit, avocet, bittern, water vole, otter. Café & toilets, parking free for RSPB members, £5 non-members. Please contact Tracey-Anne Sitch on: traceyannesitch@sky.com
HAMERTON ZOO PARK, Steeple Gidding, Huntingdon, PE28 5RE – Sunday 5th July.
www hamertonzoopark.com
Compact Zoo with good collection Tigers including white, serval, cheetah, small cats, bears, maned wolf, otter, binturong, raccoon, zebra. Café. No Dogs. Adults £19.99, Seniors £18.99
BRITISH WILDLIFE CENTRE, Eastbourne Rd, Newchapel, Lingfield, Surrey. RH7 6LF – Sunday 20th September. www.britishwildlifecentre.co.uk
All-British wildlife, Badger, Barn & other owls, Buzzard, Deer, Fox, Otter, Pine Marten, Red Squirrel, Wildcat, Hedgehog. Adult £17 (£16 online) Senior £14.50 (£13.50 online)
WELNEY WWT, nr Wisbech, Cambs. CB6 1UG – Sunday 1st November.
www.wwt.org.uk
Wetland site with many waterfowl, marsh harrier, barn owl, hares. Hides, Café.
Whooper Swan feeding at 3.30pm. Adult £6.30 (£7 Gift Aid), Seniors £5.40 (£6.50 Gift Aid)
BRANDON MARSH NATURE CENTRE, Brandon Lane, Coventry. CV3 3GW – Sunday 15th November.
www.warwickshirewildlifetrust.org.uk
Pools, reedbeds, grassland & woodland, with 9 hides. Kingfishers, water fowl, possibly otters, muntjac deer. Winter murmurations of up to 50,000 starlings at sunset, about 4pm.
Adults £4.75, Seniors £3.75, Free to Warwicks Wildlife members.
Please let Sarais or the Hosting Member know well beforehand if you plan to join any of the visits
and you will be sent fuller details.
If you decide to come at the last minute, are going to arrive late, or can’t come after all, please text me on
07507 959987 so I’m not left waiting at the gate!
Email Sarais Crawshaw – saraiscrawshaw@aol.com or – 07507 859987
Fancy an Art Safari? Our Patron Hazel Soan is offering this trip to Zambia in September/October
– if you are interested, contact Hazel on: hazelsoan@gmail.com
CREATE AND DONATE
HELP MAKE A DIFFERENCE THROUGH ART
Members are invited to create and donate one A5 wildlife portrait to support
TWASI’s commitment to supporting wildlife.
There is no Entry Fee, all artworks will be sold for £45, with all proceeds donated to
TWASI’s charity for 2026 – WILDCAT HAVEN UK
The subject is a wildlife portrait (with or without background or wild landscape) in any original medium (original prints only, eg linocut) on a flat surface, must fit into a hard-backed C5 envelope 162 x 229 mm.
The artwork will be numbered and sold to the public via TWASI website, image displayed on a printed board at the Annual Exhibition and featured in the Atrium Award Winners Exhibition at Nature in Art in October.
The online Exhibition will run from 23rd May to 10th October 2026, on TWASI’s website. Every member taking part will be featured in TWASI Facebook & Instagram during the duration of the sale. Any work sold will be posted to the buyer by the artist.
Members must send their entry as a large high resolution jpeg 300dpi, minimum 1MB to twasiart@gmail.com,
by 30/04/26
Members will soon be sent an online Entry Form for this opportunity.
Winners of TWASI Christmas Card Competition 2025
Barry Walding Obituary
Barry was a member of TWASI from the early days on and off throughout the last 30 years has sadly passed. He was an extremly kind and generous man to fellow artists. His beautiful paintings were much admired and collected and he tackled so many different subjects other than wildlife.
In his youth Barry was inspired by a painting by artist David Shepherd, entitled March Sunlight.
Barry eventually met David Shepherd in 1977 and three years later left his job at Rolls Royce and took up painting as a full-time occupation.
“I’m a keen conservationist with a love of the British Countryside and its wildlife which has featured prominently in my work. I enjoy painting anything and everything. A lot of artists like to specialise in things like locomotives or aeroplanes or portraiture, and there’s nothing wrong with that, but I enjoy the variety.
I’ve been doing it ever since and have taken part in exhibitions throughout the country at places like the Yorkshire Railway Museum and the Mall Galleries in London, and had three successful exhibitions at the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust in Slimbridge.”
Barry’s work has also been on show at Nature in Art, near Gloucester, as artist in residence on five occasions. He has produced paintings of everything from portraits in the style of the Pre-Raphaelites through to animals and transport. Some of his paintings have been used to raise money for charities such as the RAF Benevolent Fund and Battle of Britain Historical Society.
Dr Jane Goodall Obituary
So sad to hear today that one of our patrons Dr Jane Goodall has sadly departed this world she will leave a tremendous legacy for future generations.
Jane Goodall, Ph.D., DBE, founder of the Jane Goodall Institute and UN Messenger of Peace is world renowned for her pioneering research on wild chimpanzees, and efforts today to inspire every individual to protect the environment we share.
This is a membership only event but guests are welcome on the Sunday morning for the talk and demo by Nick Mackman 10am to 12.30 pm
Click here for a downloadable link for PDF booking form
TWASI CHRISTMAS CARD COMPETITION 2025
An annual competition for all TWASI members:
- Design the front of a Christmas Card, to be sent to all TWASI Members by email or
post. - Your image may be in any media, including sculpture, photography & digital.
- The design may include lettering if you wish.
- The image may be in square or oblong proportions.
- Maximum 2 entries per member.
- Closing date for entries is 22nd November 2025.
- Entries may be entered as a jpeg image (300dpi, up to 5MB)
and sent to saraiscrawshaw@aol.com
Please title your jpeg with Name & Title, and use Email Subject: “TWASI Christmas
Card Competition”.
Or – Post an A4 photograph to TWASI, Appletrees, Main Street, Willey, Rugby. CV23
0SH, with Name & Title written on the back.
If you wish to have the photograph returned, please enclose a s.a.e. - Entries will be judged by the TWASI Central Council members.
The winning entry will be sent by email to all TWASI Members this Christmas, will be
shown on the TWASI website, in the following edition of “On the Wild Side” Magazine, on
the TWASI Facebook Page, & if available, may be exhibited at the following Annual
Exhibition. - Prize: 100 copies of your design printed on good quality card for your personal use.
Click here to view The Annual Exhibition Award Winners and their work
TWASI MEMBERS SUMMER COMPETITION
1st Place – Louise Hancox – ‘Praying for Kelp’
“Praying for Kelp” is part of my Keystone Series – a small body of artwork that
explores unsung heroes essential to ecosystem survival. The artwork was created
using mainly pastel pencils on Pastel Mat.
It was inspired by my travels on the wild coast of British Columbia, where we
watched a lone sea otter drifting under the sun, paws folded in what looked like quiet
prayer. My own photographs were underwhelming, but a fabulous wildlife
photographer, Joe Tomoleoni, very kindly gave me permission to use one of his.
Joe is a marine biologist and wildlife photographer based in central California.
Beneath the surface, the sea otter’s presence shapes entire ecosystems. Once
hunted to the brink of extinction, sea otters are still endangered today.
By keeping sea urchin numbers in check, they protect kelp forests – vital habitats
that anchor marine biodiversity, protect coastlines from erosion, and act as powerful
carbon sinks.
He floats, as if weightless, yet carries the fate of a forest, a coastline, and a hidden
world beneath the waves.
With his survival, a living sea breathes.
2nd Place – Sophie Parkhill – ‘Horsey Gap Seals’
“Horsey Gap Seals” was created using a range of soft pastels, mainly Pan Pastel on
Pastel Mat.
The reference photo was taken during a drizzly trip to Norfolk.
At first, the beach looked like a mass of rocks – until a pup lifted its head and
revealed a colony of hundreds of seals stretched out before us.
3rd Place – Sophie Parkhill – ‘The Eye of the Catcher ‘
“The Eye of the Catcher” was painted in soft pastel, and based on a photo that I took
in Scotland whilst visiting my brother. The featured Oystercatcher was guarding a hidden nest, sadly unmarked as a nesting site.
It’s the first in my ongoing series titled “The Wonder of our Shores”, which celebrates
the wide variety of bird species found along our UK coastline.
Through this work, I hope to highlight the incredible wildlife on our doorsteps and
encourage more people to explore and appreciate our native nature.
2024 News and Notices
Obituary
Ken Stroud the founding member of The Wildlife Art Society International sadly passed away this November 2024. Older members of the society will remember Ken’s dedication and enthusiasm for the society he founded. He has been unable to be with us at the Annual Exhibitions for many years now, since the 25th Anniversary of the society, but he will be missed by many of his artistic friends.
The Society award at our annual exhibition The Founders Award for the Best British Wildlife was created in Ken’s honour.
“My aim when producing one of my wildlife paintings is to impart something of the lifestyle and character of the animals I paint. All too often, wildlife paintings are sterile, static portraits of animals, rendered in great detail but tell the viewer little about the animal or its way of life. Wild animals are alive, they hunt, mate, react with other animals, fight and search for food. These are the stories I want to show my prospective buyers, not just beautifully rendered, photorealistic portraits.
Having been fortunate to have travelled to some beautiful and amazing countries, I have tried to absorb some the atmosphere, observe the special light and watch the animals that inhabit my paintings.
I have travelled in Africa; Kenya and Tanzania, witnessing the drama of the plains animals, the big five and so many other fantastic inhabitants of this magical country. To Canada; the Rockies, for elk, bear, big horn, deer, prairie dogs and fantastic scenery., In Austria I visited the Bayeriche Forest located on the Austrian/ Czech border in winter snow to watch and photograph bears, lynx, wolves and bison.
Such is my interest in wildlife art that in 1992, along with a couple of other artists, I started The Wildlife Art Society International – TWASI, for which I served as the Chairman and President. I am now the Immediate Past President and Founder. The society has gained a truly international following. Other areas of interest include North American Indians and historic reproductions. I am also a Signature Member of the international group Artists for Conservation (AFC)”.
Ken Stroud
Christmas Card Competition 2024 Results
1 st place: Louise Hancox – “Everglow”
“This robin artwork was created using coloured pencils on Grafix Drafting Film, and the
background is oil pastel. The fabulous reference photo was from Sue MacCallum-Stewart
at Wildlife Reference Photos.
Finding the perfect title for my artwork has become an art in itself, almost like a little secret
door into the story I’m hoping to share. Sometimes, it isn’t always clear why I’ve chosen a
subject until I’m searching for the right title.
At first, the idea behind my robin seemed simple: a nod to Christmas, and the branch
(very) vaguely met the “Tree” challenge for my art group meet-up. But when I gave myself
space to sit with it, I felt there was something deeper behind my choice.
I set it aside for a few weeks, and when I returned to it, the little glow in the robin’s feathers
caught my eye. The lyrics from Coldplay’s “Everglow” immediately came to mind –
“You’re with me wherever I go, You give me this feeling, this Everglow”.
And then I understood what this artwork truly meant to me. I lost both of my parents, days
apart, during a single, devastating December week, four years ago. They both loved
watching garden birds, and a little red-breasted robin was a favourite guest.
In British folklore, robins are said to be guardians or messengers, protecting those we’ve
lost. This robin is my quiet tribute to my Mum and Dad, a gentle reminder of their love that
I carry with me every day.”
2nd place – Kate Evelyn Smith – “Winter Sunrise”
I have never been a fan of art competitions, because appreciation of art is so subjective.
However, I am always glad when the TWASI Christmas card competition comes around.
It gives me a focus and a deadline for Christmas preparations which otherwise I would be
sadly lacking!
My painting “Winter Sunrise” depicts the view from my drive towards the east. I live on
forty acres of common land which is cut for hay and only grazed for a couple of weeks a
year, so it is quite wild with big thick tufts of grass. I took the reference photos a few years
ago, when the snow lay on the ground for over a week. The obvious attraction was the
beautiful sunrise, but it was fascinating to see how the fox run, from the bottom centre of
the painting leading up to the left, was made so prominent by the settled snow. Some
animal tracks, possibly muntjac, roe deer or foxes, were also left in the deep snow,
heading towards the Brook which runs along the line of trees. Another useful aspect for
the painting’s composition is the way the blustery wisps of clouds and the long shadows of
the trees create a good sense of perspective. The painting is in acrylics on canvas.
3 rd place – Kate Evelyn Smith – “Wood Mouse, Winter Feast”
“Wood Mouse Winter Feast” was my attempt to avoid the statutory Christmas robin and
replace it with a beautiful wood mouse instead! Having said that, I think Louise Hancox’s
“Everglow” robin is exquisite and a much deserved winner! My wood mouse is painted in
acrylics on board. I had to research the wood mouse to make sure it did, in fact, eat holly
berries and I also used a variety of images from Freepix to make sure that the mouse and
the holly berries were in the correct scale. While the wood mouse has big, shiny eyes,
lovely thick fur, and large Mickey Mouse ears, it also has a naked, rat-like tail which isn’t
perhaps the most attractive feature for a Christmas card. Next time I should choose the
dormouse, which, I learned, is the only UK rodent with a furry tail!
Date for your diary
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The Wildlife Art Society International 