William Montgomery News

Each year October is observed as World Animal Month. The holiday originated in Italy in 1931 and was started by a group of ecologists at a congress of the world’s animal protection organisations who wanted to raise awareness of animals, their importance, and their needs.

Our obsession with, and adoration for our feline friends has endured for many centuries. And a great illustration of this is seen through their representation in art throughout history, from Ancient Egyptian tomb art, Japanese woodcarvings, and Impressionist paintings, all the way to current day contemporary paintings and an endless stream of quirky internet memes.

This day of celebration for fatherhood is said to date back to the early 1500s when the Catholic Church supported its celebration on Saint Joseph's Day, otherwise known as 'The Feast of Saint Joseph'. The day reveres the "Nourisher of the Lord" (as referred to in Catholicism) or "the putative father of Jesus" (as known in Southern European tradition), and so was a fitting time to mark appreciation for Fathers.

You don't have to live in rural areas to find a wealth of wild animals in the UK. In Britain's towns and cities, it is possible to spot birds of prey, urban foxes, bumblebees, and tufted ducks to name just a few. The Wildlife Trust states, “The green spaces of our towns and gardens bring nature into our daily lives, brightening our mornings with birdsong and the busy buzzing of bees”.

In 2020, we at Collier & Dobson were excited to continue our new commissioned collaboration with highly skilled fine art technician Adam Paddon with a small collection of stunning bronze 'fruit' sculpture, which artfully represented his captivation with taking the norm and adding a bright and interesting twist.