Nature and art: the RSPB award goes to...

The RSPB magazine uncovered Nature and art: the RSPB award goes to...

19 Oct 2017

Nature ebbs and flows through art and culture. Projections on cave walls transcend time, and bridge the gulf between people now and people of the past. Those early images were of life; both humans and other animals. Ever since, nature has had an intrinsic bond with art.

I have the privilege of being invited to attend the Society of Wildlife Artists annual exhibition most years, and this year I had the daunting responsibility for choosing the winner of the RSPB prize. Many of the artists showing work are involved in RSPB projects, most recently documenting our work on Wallasea Island. The artwork produced during this project is an important cultural documentation of the relationship between people and nature, and was the source of inspiration for the 2015 winner, Greg Poole. His image of a short-eared owl against the background of the machinery being used to create its hunting grounds perfectly captured the rawness of the earthworks and hunter in action.

Alongside the art of SWLA members hangs the winners, runners-up and highly commended pieces from our children’s art competition: Wild Art. It’s a wonderful opportunity for young and not-so-young wildlife artists to enjoy each other's work and be inspired. You can read more about our Wild Art competition in this past blog.

I could talk about art and nature for hours and hours, but both topics speak better for themselves. Below are some of my favourite pieces, and of course pieces by this year’s winner of the RSPB award, Dafila Scott.