I’m bowled over by the presentation of Dungscape at The Society of Wildlife Artists’ annual show The Natural Eye 2026
The whole exhibition is fantastic - for information and to see the catalogue, click here
18 months ago I visited Bristol Museum & Art Gallery to sketch beetles…
… and now those sketches, with the paintings and linocuts that developed, are in The Mall Galleries between Trafalgar Square and Buckingham Palace. Alongside the work of the finest wildlife artists in circulation.
I took a lot of photos with other artists who had fantastic work in the show, and was honoured also to welcome Dr George McGavin (entomologist and presenter), and Dr Fergus Macbeth (chair of Clifton Arts Club). Lots of photos on my instagram and my website
The prolific and gloriously formidable art critic blogger Katherine Tyrrell* (who writes the Making A Mark blog) summed the SWLA up perfectly in this review, which references Dungscape:
What distinguishes the artwork in this wildlife art show is that it is based on actual observation of the subject, rather than the conversion of a photograph into a drawing, print or painting. The selectors are always looking for the signs that an artwork is based on personal and real observation
IF you are in London, I would highly recommend a trip to Kew Gardens to see the Henry Moore exhibition. I went with The Society of Women Artists the day before the SWLA Private View. We picnic’d, walked, and posed alongside ‘Reclining Woman: Arch Leg’. I stayed to sketch it, and really enjoyed the way it picked up bounced light from plants and sky. The sketching process revealed so much that I wouldn’t otherwise have noticed - ridges, angles, surface texture, and the close relationship between the two parts.
If you can’t make it to the SWLA show, or are planning a visit and need information, here’s the link:
Wishing you a wonderful week, whatever you’re up to.
Gail xxx
* Incidentally it was Katherine Tyrrell who suggested (at The Society of Women Artists’ show) that I might adopt the term ‘allegorical artist’ when describing my practice. That has really helped me anchor my apparently diverse subject matter. Dungscape shows a literal natural ecosystem, but also represents the ecosystem connecting museum collections, fieldwork, and the sketchbook.
I love seeing the dung on tour and how you’ve let us take a peek behind the scenes of this fascinating world of wildlife artists 🍃