artist research

1. Artist 1
John Bonavich
John Banovich is an American oil painter known internationally for his large, dramatic
portrayals of iconic wildlife. Today, Banovich’s work can be found in museum, corporate
and private collections.
Born in Butte, Montana, Banovich emerged as a talent to watch two decades ago when
his paintings were selected “Best of Show” two consecutive years at the Pacific Rim Art
Expo, then the premier showcase for wildlife art in the world. Since then, Banovich’s
work has appeared in many prestigious venues, including the Leigh Yawkey Woodson
Art Museum’s Birds in Art show, the Hiram Blauvelt Art Museum, the Salmagundi Club,
traveling exhibitions sponsored by the Society of Animal Artists and showcases hosted
by Safari Club International and Dallas Safari Club.

2. Artist 2
Nick Mackman
Nick Mackman is an award winning sculptor of ceramic and bronze animal sculptures.
She has been widely exhibited and in 2012 she was Overall Runner-up and Go Wild
Category Winner in the Wildlife Artist of the Year competition. She won the Open
Category in 2010.
Her animal sculptures have found home with, amongst others, John Cleese, Dame Judi
Dench, Chris Packham, David Shepherd and Vicountess Serena Linley. She has been
commissioned by British Airways and the Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition
(pictured below with Sir David Attenborough).

3. Artist 3
Barbara Franc
“I attended Morley College of Art in the late 70s where I studied Life drawing under
Maggie Hambling and John Bellany. In the late 80s I attended Richmond College to
study Sculpture under Avril Vellacott, but the most influential of my mentors is Mary
Orrom, an inspired and inspiring sculptor, based in Great Missenden, Bucks.”
“I have always been fascinated by the shapes and sculptural forms of animals, they
present a never-ending source of inspiration to me. I try to capture a feeling of their
movement and presence in my sculpture. For this I use wire and other materials in a
way that suggests drawing in three dimensions. This allows me greater freedom to add
changes whenever I want during the construction to keep the feeling fluid and to reflect
the diversity of movement and form.”

4. Artist 4
Jonathan knight
In the work of Jonathan Knight we find the characteristic life spark of his subjects
caught and held in bronze.
Having been a professional sculptor for nearly thirty years, Jonathan Knight is widely
recognised as one of the leading wildlife and equestrian artists of his generation.
Early on, he established his reputation with lifesize bronzes of Dawn Run at Cheltenham
Racecourse and of Music Boy at Cheveley Park Stud, Newmarket.
A life lived in the countryside of Sussex has brought about a connection with nature,
expressed in his sculpture of wild animals and birds. In these,he pares away surface
detail to concentrate on form.

5. Artist 5
Chris shields
Award winning artist and wildlife illustrator Chris Shields graduated from Northwich
College of Art and Design in the UK in 1973.
In 1983 after a short career in the commercial art world he followed his passion for
wildlife and became a self-employed wildlife artist and illustrator.
Chris is now regarded as one of the worlds leading natural history illustrators has
produced to date in excess of thirty thousand wildlife illustrations in over 300 books,
numerous calendars, greeting cards, posters and jigsaw puzzles. He has exhibited his
paintings widely in the UK and China and has paintings in public and private collections
all over the world.
As a wildlife artist & illustrator he has work published or displayed by many
organizations and companies

6. Artist 6
Brin edwards
I took a degree in art at the Central School of Art and Design in London (now Central St.
Martin’s) and have spent many years working in graphic design and marketing. After a
few years of doing commissions in my spare time, in 2010 I decided to become a full
time animal artist. My memberships include the Marwell International Wildlife Art
Society, the Association of Animal Artists, the Society of Feline Artists and The Wildlife
Artists Society International.
I work exclusively in high quality pastels which give both a softness and an intensity of
colour and I use archival quality materials. You can see an example of how a pastel
portrait is created.