Notice Board 2026

Date for your 2026 Diary

October Saturday 3rd and Sunday 4th AGM and members weekend at Nature in Art.

Saturday –
Workshops on Batik with Bridget Cordory and Charcoal and Oils with Stella Mays

Saturday evening – AGM to be confirmed
Fish ’n’ Chip supper

Sunday morning there will be an illustrated talk by Wildcat Haven by Dr Paul O’Donoghue https://www.wildcathaven.com/ and ‘The Critique’ in the afternoon.

There is no increase in cost this year it is still fabulous value for £95 all meals and refreshments included.

This year we are asking for a £40 non refundable deposits to secure your place.

There is a downloadable PDF version of the booking form available here.

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

Sarais Crawshaw-White & Gold-Acrylic-27x27-£250

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.