The Dungscape paintings are framed, linocuts drying, hotel booked… and the Knepp publicity is ramping up - it’s bolstering to see the project through their eyes:

I would love to have your company at the opening event, two weeks from today on Saturday 15th August. Or if you are able to visit the show another time, it would be great to know what you think. For visitor information including the Private View, location, times and plans click here.

Whatever your engagement - with encouraging words, research help, art help, emotional crutchery etc - you have been the wind in my sail: Dungscape has stretched all my capabilities for planning, communication, networking, and toe-curling self promotion to bring this show to fruition. There were several obstacles that nearly brought Operation Dungscape to a halt, but your belief and support kept me plugging away. So here we are, on the home straight:

There are just a few places left at our shared table in the restaurant after the Private View. For more information, and to book:

Reserve a place at the table

If you’re extending your visit to Knepp, it’s worth checking their visitor event pages:

There are still spaces on their Beaver Safari on 14th August - the day before the show officially opens (the Friday night BBQ is sold out), and two Tomato tasting events on 15th August - the day of the Private View.

Some of the technical challenges I’ve encountered over the course of this project will inform my future practice. For example, irridescent paint. I’ve found that this ‘structural colour’ is only appreciable when viewed in real life or video (not still photography). It is of course subject to the position of the viewer in relation to the painted surface. Acrylic paint versions seem more pronounced than their oil equivalents. So, whilst I have used them in Dungscape on the swallow feathers, insect wings, and Purple emperor wing, overall it seems more effective to observe and portray the light effects of structural colour, using traditional materials:

^{Coloured pencil and ink sketch of Onthophagus medius, made using a microscope at Bristol Museum when Dungscape was just a slip of an idea}

This and many other early sketches will be part of the show. The to-do list is still long (how would you present a wad of loose sketches?!), but it’s mostly icing on the cake at this point.

Right, we are moving on from La Rochelle today. The temperature has dropped slightly, and the wildfires further south are at last coming under some control. So I’d better close the laptop and drive to our next destination. In fact Leon (who has just halved his insurance premium with his first year of no claims bonus) will be doing some of the driving, keen to practice on the right side of the road. I’ll leave you with a few holiday photos, and a promise to share more about the linocuts in my next newsletter.

^{L to R, top to bottom: Beaver sketch from La Rochelle Natural History Museum, La Rochelle beach, surreptitious ferry sketch, me writing to you, Izzi and Tom sketching.}

Thank you as always

Gxxx

View exhibition details

The product of a year’s research and making, this body of work brings together paintings, drawings, prints, and sketches developed in close consultation with museum curators and ecologists. Showing at Knepp feels especially fitting, as the oil paintings are based on their landscape, flora and fauna.

If you visit the show, stroll along the paths from the exhibition into that very landscape - and see which wildlife you can find from the paintings!

I’ve been hand cutting and printing linocuts for the show, reconstituting my membership of Spike Print Studios - a wonderful community of printmakers with great facilities. Here’s the first proof being printed (sound up for squelching ink and the clattering mechanical noises of my trusty steed the Vandercook press!):

The Private View is 5.30pm-6.30pm on Saturday 15th August at Knepp Wilding Estate.

For those who would like to continue the conversation into the evening, please join us as we step across the courtyard for a communal dinner, in the Michelin Green Star Knepp Wilding Kitchen. The chefs will prepare a sharing feast with

“the best of seasonal ingredients, from Wild Range meat grown on Knepp, organic produce from our on-site regenerative Market Garden and sustainable fish caught by day-boat on the British coast”

Places are limited, so reserve a place at the table if you’d like to join us for food:

Reserve a place at the table

In case you’re around the night before - Leon and I will be letting our hair down after setting up the show: On Friday 14th August we have tickets for the Knepp catered BBQ with live music, so book here to join us for that.

The oil painting diptych that forms the centrepiece of my Dungscape show is varnished at last, here’s some gratuitous footage of the process to whet your appetite

Plan your visit

In other news, I squeezed in a lot of sketched portraits last week: On Saturday I gave a quick sketch portrait demo in London, within The Society of Women Artists 165th Annual Open exhibition. It was lovely to see so many people enthusiastically trying my simple system with the pencils provided. We were so lucky to get a range of volunteer models, including with glasses/hat. Having introduced the materials and method, I narrated my way through 4 portraits, about 20 minutes each. The audience were delightfully game, no howlers, and no pencils left at the end 😁#result. Let’s just say it clearly wasn’t their first rodeo 🤓👌🏻

Sunday was a beautiful last meeting with the art model and poet Bianca Pavetti before she heads onwards on her travels. It has been wonderful to get to know her while she visited Bristol. I tried to sketch her thinking and talking about her plans for the future. She made such an impression on the Bristol art scene over her short stay - we will miss her very much.

Then on Monday I hosted a figure drawing client for the morning (I offer this as a commission service). He really wanted to try being a model for the challenge, and was delighted with the experience and the results. He reminded me so much of Lucian Freud’s painting of Leigh Bowery (final picture above), that I showed it to him, and he agreed to model in that pose for his final drawing (shared with permission).

I hope your week is going well - don’t forget to check your calendar, because I’d LOVE to welcome you to:

The Private View in August

Gail xxx

Visitor information

Painting LIVE at evening charity event

On the evening of the Private View I will be creating an artwork LIVE at this event:

Hear from Rachel Parker, President of the Society of Women Artists, and Tabitha Morton, CEO of UN Women UK. “Reinvigorate yourself with hope as we explore what’s next for Rights. Justice. Action. for all women and girls.”

The programme includes spoken word by Iffat Rahman, with live music by jazz harpist Tara Minton (look her up, she’s amazing!).

Info & tickets

I have made a start already, blending many references to reflect the UN Women UK charity. I am looking forwards very much to ‘stitching’ on the words of guests during the event. Read about the quilting history and other references behind my painting here:

Quick Sketch Portrait Demo

On Saturday 27th at 2pm, come to The Mall Galleries for a live demonstration of my quick sketch portrait technique. Free with entry to the exhibition, I’m looking forward to sharing a simple approach for capturing a quick likeness, and the essence of a sitter, using the most basic materials. The cafe has excellent cake, it can be a multi-sensory experience!

I will be working from live volunteer sitters, talking through the process, and producing this sort of thing:

Dungscape

Finally, just to say plans are coming together for a lovely PV at Knepp on 15th August, I really hope you might consider joining us for art, talks, and incredible food. More info here, and in my next newsletter.

Wishing you a brilliant week,

Gail xxx

The warehouse at Willway Yard has a big group show of work by Bristol Plein Air Painters, open 10-5 this weekend (last day tomorrow).

Today from 11am-12 there will be a painting demo by Helena Traill, leader of the Bristol Plein Air Painters. Here she is dancing with - ahem - interviewing me at the show:

Tomorrow, come and meet the artists on the final day of our group exhibition. All welcome, book a free ticket if you can (so we can work out rough numbers), or just come along and bring your friends! Sadly I can’t be there, but many of the artists will be.

Also… Bedminster’s Secret Gardens trail is open: https://bloomingbedminster.tumblr.com/SecretGardensparticipantsquestions

Whatever you’re up to, have a wonderful weekend,

Gxxx

I’m honoured that Erica McAlister (Principal curator of flies and fleas at the Natural History Museum, who has helped enormously with Dungscape) will be opening the show. Here she is with Charles Burrell (co-owner of Knepp estate and Knepp Wildland Foundation trustee):

The paintings have much more texture and colour than can be seen in a photo, with lots of surprise details - I’d LOVE to welcome you at the opening event, so have put together some (hopefully useful) information here about plans. Maybe you can spot a Noon fly, like the one Erica pointed out in the video, below?!

I cannot recommend highly enough staying at/near Knepp if you can, to explore the whole estate, with binoculars and a [sketch]book. The cafe, restaurant and shop are all amazing. The birdsong is deafening.

Plan your visit

You can read about the whole Knepp project in Isabella Tree’s Sunday Times bestseller book Wilding (available here). I loved listening to Isabella reading it herself on Audible. Isabella is the co-owner of Knepp Estate, author, and a Knepp Wildland Foundation trustee.

It’s been such fun sharing the progress of Dungscape, all my research is shared here.

This short video has been a surprise hit on Instagram, reaching 50k views already.

I’m looking forward to spending June producing two linocuts to include in the show. A purple emperor sipping dung, and a hornet robberfly murdering a greenbottle. Tame, aesthetically pleasing stuff that would look great on the kitchen wall.

Wishing you a lovely sunny bank holiday weekend, hope to see you at Knepp in August, or at The Mall Galleries in London - I will be showing there with the SWA in June, and with the SWLA (Dungscape) in October.

Gail xxx

PS - whether you’re a fan of a manicure, a ‘curated strip’, or no-mow May, for information on how to use your lawn to help the polinators and pest controllers featured in Dungscape, without bringing in a herd of cattle:

buzz through this article

North Street Gallery, Bristol, until 26th April - a group show including a collection of my oil paintings, and a browser full of sketches. Including the smaller Raft Of The Medusa painting. Open Thurs - Sun, 11-5pm. Also available from this catalogue.

23rd - 27th June - The Society of Women Artists 165th annual exhibition (Mall Galleries, London). Nb 1: Quirky opening times . Nb 2: Let me know if you’d like a ticket for the private view.

27th June, afternoon - live portrait demo at the SWA show (above)

“Sharing a simple approach for capturing a quick likeness, and the essence of a sitter,
using the most basic materials. Gail will introduce her materials, followed by a series of 20 minute portrait sketches from life, explaining the process throughout. There will be a small number of slots for sitters with the option of the portraits being available to take away at the end of the day. An optional donation to this year’s charity would be very welcome.”

15th August - 6th September Knepp Wilding Estate (show info here)

A Solo exhibition of Dungscape - the canvases, sketches, and concertina sketchbook. Also my large framed Snails and Slugs, hopefully linocuts, and definitely entomological specimens. There will be a PV on 15th August, possibly a talk, possibly dinner event. details tbc. Highly recommend checking out their website for glamping, safaris, and lots of other events. Accommodation gets very booked up if you are thinking of making a weekend of it.

5th - 14th June - Willway Yard

A group show “Bristol Landscapes & Gardens” by Bristol Plein Air Painters.

1st week of October SWLA annual show The Natural Eye (Mall Galleries, London)

Exhibition of Dungscape canvases and sketches, as a bursary award winner.

All artists appreciate people taking the trouble to visit their shows. It is always a delight for me, and never an obligation for you.

Please do let me know if you are ever planning to visit a show I’m in, and would like to meet up - I will try to arrange to be in the gallery when you come, so I can greet you and personally show you round, with as much simpering as your heart desires!

Wishing you a very happy Easter Monday, and a good week ahead,

Gail x

Erica is Principal Curator of flies and fleas at The Natural History Museum in London, and a regular face at Knepp Wilding Estate (where Dungscape is set). She is a most engaging speaker, author, and the referee of my bursary project.

Here’s a taste of the work we’ve been doing, hope you can tune in on Tuesday:

For the second year running I had a portrait digitally pre-selected through the first round of judging for the Royal Society of Portrait Painters’ annual open call. So for the second year running, took it to London for ‘in real life judging’. No cigar. Cue ‘walk of shame’ (collecting from the back entrance of The Mall Galleries 3 days later and carting it back to Bristol). Notwithstanding simply feeling very lucky to be healthy and free, this year I did three things that softened the blow of rejection:

1. Not publicising the pre-selection (so I didn’t have to tell people about the rejection - getting pre-selected is so difficult that many established artists have taken to announcing it).

2. I had the joy of a day out in London with my sitter Cato Pedder - we handed the portrait in together. One of the Mall Gallery ‘receivers’ exclaimed in complimentary tones about seeing Cato next to her portrait, and took this lovely photo:

   

3. I had it collected and driven back to Bristol by Art Moves of Chelsea. This was my first time using their (collect and deliver) service that runs between several cities and large open exhibitions. Instead of going back to London, I met the Art Moves van in a forecourt beside my local Royal West of England Academy. I was able to collect for a friend whose painting was also rejected. And met an artist whose work I really like, and who’s been in the RP show many times, retrieving his wonderful portrait from the same fate as mine. And bumped into another friend sending a painting up for another show. So really quite a validating experience.

I was aired by the Royal Portrait Society writing prize, but to be honest my application, a piece on The Male Gaze, was probably poking the bear. There was no acknowledgement of my entry, nor the usual Dear John letter about number of high quality entries, difficulty selecting, etc that characterise open call rejections. The published winners will produce something well worth reading - the essays are usually really good, and the show itself is incredible.

I was however very sad to miss out on the The Colab residency. This is only the 2nd time I’ve applied for a residency, I had to have two ‘referees’ supporting my application. Both are artists I admire, with impressive credentials. On messaging them to let them know their services wouldn’t be required, I received such encouraging replies, including “I definitely apply for way more things than I get!”.

To add to my good cheer, there are 3 commissions to work on, more applications pending, an exhibition on the go, and a temporary new soapbox:

Exhibition and Meet The Artists event

The group Spring exhibition at North Street Gallery is open until the end of April. I’m really enjoying showing work there - as an exhibitor in the group show, artists undertake to be on the stewarding rota. It’s been fascinating seeing behind the scenes at a gallery, and lovely to meet and talk with visitors. Also interesting to see different buying styles, from protracted to decisive!

I have been touched by the number of you who’ve gone out of your way to visit the show, thank you so much. And thank you to the mystery gifter - I will be treating myself to some new materials very soon.

If you can’t make it in person, my work is available to browse online here. The Equinox Bristol Gallery Weekend is this weekend, there are some brilliant demos, tours etc across Bristol Galleries, including (you are welcome of course) in North Street Gallery on Saturday afternoon.

SWLA Instagram takeover

As Dungscape is the winner of the Society of Wild Life Artists Bursary award, I have been given the reins of their Instagram account for March. It is such a great account, with a big audience. An opportunity to share Dungscape with a much wider audience, and also to slip in some exposure for other wildlife artists and galleries.

Dungscape ‘Turnered’ a corner recently, as I went to visit the Turner & Constable show at the Tate. Seeing Turner’s experimentation, and control of light, really helped me unlock the problem with the middle ground.

I was stuck trying to get the flying insects to show up against a background of grass. Inspired by Turner, a much bolder streak of light now offsets the Purple Emperor butterfly, and is ready to receive the dungflies and other beauties.

I’m excited to have new toys to play with - some homemade impasto medium from the brilliant artist Laura Williams , and iridescent paint which will be the finishing touch on the swallow, butterfly and beetles.

Out and about

Here are a few snaps from the last month, including several exhibitions still open:

• A taste of Rose Wylie

• Sketching at a free portrait event organised by Bristol Women’s Voices for International Womens Day

• Mounira Al Solh at The Arnolfini until 24th May

• Michele Ashby demonstrating in The SGFA show at The Mall Galleries

• Louisa Crispin at The SGFA show in The Mall Galleries

• Boxing themed life drawing session at Hamilton House with Bristol Life Drawing

• Yeside Linney (also Louisa Crispin and others) at Sandra Higgins Gallery (Bath) until 28th March

• Jacqueline Hammond and a collective showing botanical work in Stroud until 22nd March.

Thanks for reading, have a great week,

Gail

PS have you seen the Rose Wylie show at the Royal Academy? If so what did you think? I don’t get it, but the reviews are mostly gushing…

It would be fantastic for me, and for all stakeholders, to win the People’s prize in this competition, please take a minute to vote, it’s very easy!

Click here then scroll down to 56

2025 was a busy year, showing with the SWLA, SWA, and Ruth Borchard prize exhibitions. So I’m really happy to return to my roots, and have gathered together my best plein air landscapes, and a selection of original sketches to exhibit in the brilliant local artist-run North Street Gallery.

I would love you to visit, and will be stewarding (sketchbook in hand) in the gallery, so check the timetable on this page if you’d like to catch me in person for a chat.

Here’s the catalogue (early access for you), to be released on social media shortly.

And here’s me working hard:

Happy Sunday,

Gxxx

By the way I LOVE Substack! It still hoovers up time and attention like Instagram. But it does feel a bit more insightful, with some brilliant blogs and opinion pieces here.

Have a great week,

Gxxx

You may have noticed (hopefully it felt seamless) this email is written using Substack - a growing platform for newsletters and blogs. I was seduced by the grammar and lack of catchy videos.

The year behind

2025 has been about investing in more ambitious narrative projects and relationships. Yet again, support has come from my trusty steeds (you) and from the judging panels who selected my work. Museum natural history curators have opened my eyes and their cabinets, setting up specimens under microscopes, and taking me outside to poke around in substances usually stepped over.

The Society of Women Artists were beyond generous with the support and wall space they gave me, selecting The Raft Of The Medusa and The Boy Who Played Cricket as part of their 164th annual open exhibition in The Mall Galleries.

Thank you if you were one of the many people who came to visit shows, open studios, modelled, shared, commented, or bought work from any independent creative this year.

Other highlights:

• Behind the scenes some really moving commissions

• Giving free talks in a local school, hosting studio visits, and donating work to charity auction.

• Getting better at shrugging off rejections.

• Exhibiting with The Society of Wildlife Artists for the third year running.

• Being shortlisted for the Ruth Borchard Prize.

The year ahead

For 2026 my goals remain: Impact, Resonance, and Reach. To that end, I’ve been seeking opportunities to reach audiences with Dungscape. Happy to report two exhibitions lined up (September and October), and (despite being unconventional narrative work), this project has also been awarded a bursary. This means showing sketches and perhaps even specimens alongside the finished pieces, in places that platform the urgency of recovering habitat and species diversity.

Dungscape is presenting exciting technical challenges too - I can’t see all the solutions, but know it will get there in the end. Impasto medium has been a great learning curve. Click this image to see the impasto going on:

I’ll be ordering some iridescent paint in the New Year sales.

At the more palatable end of the spectrum, I’m delighted to be showing landscapes of the South West, at North Street Gallery from February to April:

Thank you for sticking with me this year, for all your words and actions of support. I hope my transition to Substack is seamless for you, and that you enjoy my correspondence as much as ever. There is no need to re-subscribe. I appreciate your attention very much, and am always open to suggestions and ideas.

Egged on by ChatGPT I have rebranded my newsletters and blog as ‘Journal’! You can find the archives here. I will be updating and re-publishing some of my most popular blogs in the next few months.

Wishing you a happy, healthy, rational, peaceful 2026

Over and out

Gxxx

Thank you for all your support this year. Your comments and messages reassure me that my work makes sense. Your commissions, purchases, studio visits, modelling… soulfood!

If Meta cancelled my social media tomorrow because of showing a bit too much ankle, or too much cow poo  (while the algorithms proliferate really toxic sh*t), we’d still have each other here 😊. I genuinely love sharing process videos, and receive a surprising amount of feedback that other artists find them useful. So here’s the last one of 2025:

Dungscape

Even when I pivoted from portraits to cowpats you stuck (!) around.

Big doors are opening for Dungscape, which I’m excited to share with you soon. For the eminent entomologists who have contributed so generously, it is great to be able to further the impact of their research.

Turns out there are plenty art-lovers who value biodiverse ecosystems teaming with beetles, wasps, flies, bees, butterflies and moths. Systems that have evolved to balance themselves if undisturbed. Systems that pollinate, control pests, feed the birds, and recycle waste naturally.

Jobs to neglect

So on behalf of the insects, and the fruit trees, thank you for not bothering with the pesticides. Leave unkempt garden areas, let the weeds flower, and skip a few mows. Use the time this summer to make a daisy chain, read outside, and enjoy the buzz of a bee’s wings against blossom petals.

Have a wonderful Christmas - see you in 2026

Gxxx

PS - moving home

I’ll be moving this newsletter (and my blog) onto Substack shortly. It feels like a calmer corner of the internet, built around writing and readers, rather than marketing noise. The sort of place where a judiciously placed Oxford comma might shine. Nothing about the tone or frequency of my emails will change. You will continue to receive them as usual.

I’ve already imported my blog archive there, which you can browse here

Firstly this is to let you know that SUBSCRIBERS ONLY now have early access to my ‘Black Friday Sale’.

Use the 20% discount code STUDIO20 at checkout to buy original art and prints in time for Christmas delivery. This includes drawings and paintings, framed and unframed.

shop here

Sketches

The STUDIO20 discount reduces my original sketches to £32. These make quirky gifts, much elevated by a simple off-the-shelf frame. Follow my social media where I will be sharing more examples this week, but here’s a taster - everything from watercolours to life drawings, ink and pencil.

How to buy a sketch

Katy Hessel

I was honoured to meet this renowned art historian, influencer (“The Great Women Artists” instagram & podcast), and bestselling author (“The Story Of Art Without Men”). Katy has done a huge amount of heavy lifting for the reputation of neglected historic and contemporary women artists. She was just back from Amsterdam and Edinburgh, on her book tour.

Read my blog about Katy’s book & talk

Morocco

Talking of Great Women, I’m feeling like a brand new one after a week on a Pilates retreat with a group of brilliant interesting women. Emily Hayward led us for Pilates at sunrise and sunset on this beautiful rooftop, bathed in the sounds of the Call to Prayer and a European starling that seemed to think it was conducting the class!

There was plenty time for exploring and relaxing, so I brought my paints, and to my delight 3 pictures found new homes ‘off the easel’. One of them (click below for info) is now available as a print on canvas:

The weaver

On our last evening in Marrakech I plucked up the courage to ask this gentleman to allow me to draw him. Approaching strangers like this is something I’ve been trying to crack for years. Click this image to read about the experience:

Exhibition news - date for your diary

I’m delighted to say I will be showing with North Street Gallery from February to March next year. This is a new approach for me, as I will be able to curate an area of space in a group show, and also have a browser of sketches and prints. North Street is a beautiful high street in Bedminster, packed with independent shops, restaurants, cafes. There will be a ‘Meet The Artists’ event on 21st March. More information to follow, but I intend to major on oil paintings of the South West.

Dungscape

The first two canvases are coming along in my studio - the scene is almost set, with the sky, field, and cowpats nearly done. I’m so excited to be adding all the creatures, with plans to feature iridescence, texture, behaviour, and much more. Follow me on Instagram or Facebook for regular updates including painting videos direct from my studio.

Every time I drink coffee from a handmade mug I feel a connection with the idea, skill, and hand of the maker. If you have bought my work in the past, thank you  - I really hope that you sense that connection through your purchase, because it is very much intended.

Have a great week, and if you visit my online shop, flex that discount code STUDIO20, which will be live until midnight on 1st December,

Gxxx

… author of bestseller ‘The Story Of Art Without Men’, which gave the lie to the seminal (in both senses) ‘Story Of Art’ by Ernst Gombrich….

…is on a book tour to launch ‘How to live an Artful Life’.

Half the story

Buy here

Buy here

Once I’d adjusted to the surreal experience of listening to Katy in person (after blasting The Great Women Artists podcast on my studio speakers for so long), I really enjoyed tonight’s event at The Tobacco Factory. Her familiar energetic delivery was undinted by having been in Edinburgh and Amsterdam already this week. She deftly whistled through snippets from the book, sharing quotes and images from artists she’s interviewed/studied, anecdotes, and answering some great questions.

As a serial dipper-in, the format of her new book suits me perfectly. It won’t be added to my bedside table, it will be in the studio for crisis intervention. The perfect antidote to a slump of indignation, and a reminder of the shoulders on which we stand.

Katy was generous with her attention to everyone who wanted their books signed. It was lovely to see a very dear portrait client who’d also come to the talk, and to bump into friends in the queue. When I got to the front, Katy noticed my Jen Reid/Colstons T Shirt… so imagine my delight when I saw what she’d written in my book copy!

Recommended

Katy’s infectious energy comes through in her writing, talking, and her Great Women Artists instagram account, where it all began. I highly recommend her podcast, and a copy of her new book for your Christmas list.

Tonight’s event was beautifully hosted and introduced by Storysmith books at The Tobacco Factory. Katy’s book is published by Penguin/Cornerstone

Many venues are sold out, but check Katy’s website for a few that still have tickets available.

Your comments are welcome

Which artists do you turn to for inspiration? Have you read either of Katy’s books? Feel free to leave a comment, or contact me directly with any feedback or enquiries.

Morocco me

It's been quite a month for various reasons, so I'm very grateful to Past Self for booking me onto a Pilates retreat with 2 girlfriends, setting off today. Follow me on social media for painting-ahem-Pilates updates.

I won't be holding an open studio this year, but you remain very welcome. The space is always stocked with original work, framed and unframed, to suit all budgets (sketches from £25). Contact me if you'd like to visit and scoop a bargain in person.

If you'd like to give the gift of a commission, or a voucher to spend in my online shop, get in touch. Purchases from my shop made by mid December can be delivered to UK addresses by Christmas.

Here's hoping your October ended better than Pumpkin Pete's. Have a great November, thank you, as ever, for being on the receiving end,
Gxxx

‘Climbing up to the mint’ - click for advance access to browse and buy from the exhibition catalogue

Wild invitation

The Society of Wildlife Artists’ annual exhibition ‘The Natural Eye’ opens to the public on 16th October. As an exhibitor, I am delighted to invite you to the Private View on the afternoon of 15th October. Set between Buckingham Palace and Trafalgar Square, this is a fun, friendly event, buzzing with contemporary wildlife artists and collectors. The musician David Gray will open the show at 3pm. Feel free to save or print the image below as your ticket. If you click it, you will link to the full exhibition information.

Beetles

As well as a deep dive into the world of museum-curated insect specimens, the work has been reminiscent of my days of project management: Trying to define the deliverables, and to get buy-in from interested parties has been intense! My sketchbook is filling up, and the concept is starting to gain traction with potential exhibition opportunities. With enthusiastic support and help from the entomologists in Bristol, and the Natural History, museums. They seem really keen to share the importance of keystone species like dung beetles, and the environmental conditions needed for those species to thrive.

With Rhian and Nick in Bristol Museum & Art Gallery basement. They have been so helpful digging out specimens for me to draw, teaching me relevant details to portray in a convincing natural context. And the fascinating labelling conventions, which unlock useful historical data, such as when and where the specimens were collected.

Peoples

In case you were wondering, I haven't lost interest in the human form!
1 - A fantastic session of aerial life drawing run by United Models Lifedrawing in Bristol. This quick sketch shows circus performer Jen Hebden, who used a trapeze and other equipment to create challenging (both to hold and to draw) short poses.
2 - A free online workshop (heads and hands) by Jake Spicer for Draw Brighton, demonstrating Derwent's newly extended colour range of my favourite drawing pencils. This was a 20 minute sketch of Hannah Barker using the pencils.
3 - A studio shot at the end of my hosting a client trying the wonderful experience of life modelling. Shared with permission. Contact me for info if you want to know more about this, or my more conventional portraiture services!
4 - Nick sat for his portrait, to go with the one of Angela from a couple of years ago. It was such a fun day, and very helpful to borrow hers back to make sure the styles were as consistent as possible.

Finally, a shot of the inaugural meeting of Bristol Plein Air Painters. We were blessed with blue skies, and the volunteers on The Matthew (a replica of John Cabot's ship in Bristol Harbour) invited us on board to paint.

Thanks for being here for the journey, don't forget to let me know if you'd like tickets to the Private View, or portrait information,
Gxxx

Ruth Borchard Self Portrait Prize finalist exhibition

Will this be the last blast of summer? Who knows, but it IS the last chance to see the Self Portrait Prize 2025 Exhibition in person.

The Russell Cotes Gallery is open from 10-5pm... the forecast is wonderful, their cafe has outdoor seating in the garden and a terrace overlooking the golden sands of Bournemouth beach.

Click this image for the gallery website:

Or... click this image to visit the interactive 3D virtual gallery:

Both my large and small Rafts are available to buy - one is 2.3m wide, the other 1.5m. Please contact me if you are interested, or have contacts in an institution that might rock a giant feminist talking piece in their atrium!

Dungscape

I've been busy behind the scenes securing endorsements for my next big project, and can at last share the details. Dungscape connects art, natural science, and conservation to showcase the ecological importance of dung, and the invertebrates who thrive on it. For example these Purple emperor butterflies. Fun facts: Only the males have the purple irridescence, and only the males go onto dung, feeding on salts and minerals which are crucial for reproduction... the butterfly equivalent of a Tequila Slammer 😈

Inspired by the world famous Knepp Conservation Project, described in Isabella Tree's fantastic book Wilding, I have received enthusiastic help and access to the Bristol Museum entomology collection, and the Knepp estate.

A celebration of dung as a sculptural, ecological, and aesthetically beautiful subject, Dungscape will culminate in a large oil painting of dungpats, insects, molluscs, bird, bat, and other members of this vital, fragile ecosystem. The magnification will allow detailed depiction of the invertebrate life that thrives around dung in the UK -- particularly dung beetles, a keystone species.

I have gathered input and references from leading entomologists, who are guiding me on species choices and authentic representation. They have shared many incredible facts about insects, even an actual good thing about wasps! Follow my social media for regular updates. 

Here for your delectation are a couple of pages from my sketchbook, featuring the Minotaur beetle, Digger wasp, and Lesser housefly... all from the Bristol Museum collection. 

Selection for The Natural Eye exhibition

Finally, I'm delighted to say this inquisitive snail (and stowaway woodlouse) has been accepted into the Society of Wildlife Artists' Annual Exhibition 'The Natural Eye' in October.

Next year I hope to submit Dungscape to this show, and am delighted to say it already has a couple of exhibition opportunities lined up.

I have a portrait sitter coming today, then off to enjoy some creative inspiration tomorrow: lots of East Bristol artists are holding open studios, including InBristol studios and the brilliant portrait artist Geoffrey Harrison. For details see BS5 Art Trail 2025.

Wishing you a lovely weekend whatever you're up to,
Gxxx

Holiday artwork and stories

I'm excited to share the details of my next big project shortly. If you follow me on social media, you will have guessed it involves beetles. Specifically dung beetles. One of the nice things about this is the excuse to spend time in a field of cows. So here are the back ends of a couple of cows, to break you in gently!

BS5 Art Trail

Last but not least, InBristol studios are holding an open studio as part of the BS5 Art Trail 2025 on the weekend of 6th-7th September.

They will be running a silent Art Auction with money raised going to help children and families in Gaza via MAP / medical aid for Palestinians. I have donated some work to the auction, bids start at £15.

Warmest wishes, 
Gxxx

I wanted my newsletter subscribers to be the first to hear that the big Raft Of The Medusa was shortlisted for the biennial Ruth Borchard Collection Self-Portrait Prize. 

Yesterday I delivered my 'domestic size' version to the Russell-Cotes Museum and Art Gallery.

Tonight was the opening of the group exhibition of shortlisted entries, the Private View, and the announcement of the winner. Click these images for info about the competition, the judges, and the Bournemouth gallery:

I have been bursting to tell you, but sworn to secrecy until the official announcement. Maybe it seems OTT to celebrate, not having been the overall winner, but being shortlisted signals recognition by serious curators, peers and collectors. It opens doors to networking, exhibitions, sales, and other opportunities.

The shortlisted self portraits are on display in the stunning Russell-Cotes gallery in Bournemouth (a favourite of my late mother and her husband Malcolm), surrounded by Pre-Raphaelite masterpieces, until September 7th.

The full stunning array of long- and shortlisted works can be viewed online here on the Ruth Borchard website. The Borchard collection has a fascinating history, comprising entirely self-portraits by contemporary artists.

To progress through to the final round, I took some drastic decisions. This was all going on while showing at the SWA. It got me thinking about the gambles and sacrifices we make as artists to participate in the open call system.

And explains my mysterious copying of the big version. Some broad beans spilled in this blog, enjoy!

With Richard Borchard, son of Ruth Borchard

With Malcolm 'Young Malc' Reynell, who thoroughly enjoyed our outing

I will share more information on social media when my feet have touched the ground, but for now...
Good night xxx