Artist Q&A with Giles Ward
What advice would you give to aspiring artists?
Don’t be afraid to try. And fail. Play and experiment. I remember being told at art college to stop being ‘too precious’. If a piece doesn’t work, it doesn’t matter, try again. If you don’t push yourself to experiment you’ll never surprise yourself and grow out of your comfort zone. Also don’t be scared to ask for feedback from others. It’s tempting to be scared of rejection, but sometimes an artist is their own worst judge.
Marine Life - Art and Conservation
The titular founder of the David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation, was a prominent British artist as well as outspoken conservationist, and said: “Bringing conservation and environmental issues to the forefront of people’s minds in this busy, commercial world has always been a monumental task and one that I, through my art, have strived to achieve”. You may be familiar with his inaugural fund raising success, in which he auctioned off his piece Tiger Fire (1973) and raised £127,000 for Project Tiger - a wildlife conservation project launched by India’s first and only female Prime Minister, Indira Gandhi, in April 1973.
Mother's Day Art and Home Gift Ideas
With Mother's Day (Sunday 10th March) just around the corner, now is the ideal time to get that perfect present for Mum.
We have lots of reasons to thank those special women in our life who have supported us through the recent turbulent years...as well as throughout our lives. So, to bring them a little much-deserved happiness, we've pulled together some thoughtful gift ideas from our online gallery and Interiors collections.
How the Fall Season Influences Art
The woodlands and hedgerows are abundant with colour, from richly hued ripened berries and gleaming chestnuts, to the glorious glow of leaves as their green colouring diminishes to reveal their red and yellow tints below.
It is hard to ignore such vivid visual reminders of our ever changing environment, and it's no surprise, then, that the advance of the seasons has long been a source of inspiration for creative types.
Meet the Artist - Giles Ward
Childhood memories of holidaying in coastal areas of the south west have fuelled his chosen subject, as it was on those journeys filled with wonder and discovery where he first fell in love with beach walking and rock-pooling. Having the opportunity to spend time lingering at the water’s edge revealed to him a whole world of activity below, so often overlooked. He recalls beginning to notice a ‘shifting shimmer of colour’ beneath the pool’s surface, then seeing the definitive texture of shells and scales, and the intricate and perfect patterns of nature. He says “This is where my love affair with life in the sea began: in the bottom of a yellow plastic bucket of rock-pool finds.”
New Limited Edition Prints for Autumn 2023
We are thrilled to have launched an enticing collection of vibrant new limited edition prints today. The collection includes work from the ever popular Gary Walton, Dominique Salm, Bev Davies, Nicky Litchfield, Jake Winkle, Sarah Jackson, as well as introducing exciting new marine life artist - Giles Ward.
