PROFILE

From an early age I had been encouraged to appreciate and respect the landscape and to feel its beneficial influence on the body and the spirit. It was not until graduating from university however, through long summers in upland and island Britain working with the British Geological Survey, that the desire to document observations and experiences began to take form.

I was now compelled to witness the natural world through pencil and paint. Belatedly a lifetime's apprenticeship commenced, gleaning what I could from contact with artists at life classes and local art groups. With much exasperated experimenting, faithful support from family and friends and wonderfully loyal clients, some semblance of direction and vision emerged.

Moving to Dumfries and Galloway in 1992 was the catalyst that fimly put birds and other wildlife into those landscapes. Increasingly sketching wildlife 'in the field' became important as a rich store of ideas and information and ultimately the foundation and starting point for my studio paintings. Though largely self taught those artists that I have studied, admired and whose influence I acknowledge are those whose handling of paint is so enjoyably expressive. In wildlife art the names of Bruno Liljefors and Bob Kuhn come to mind, while in contemporary art it is the work of Ken Howard , Arthur Maderson and David Prentice that inspires.

Recent Commissions:

Hide murals at Mersehead RSPB nature reserve Visitor centre mural at Lochwinnoch RSPB nature reserve
Mural and illustrations for The National Trust for Scotland
Illustrations for Scottish Natural Heritage Illustrations and designs for intrpretation boards and leaflets for Dumfries and Galloway Council

Recent Exhibitions:

'Going Wild' Ingleby Gallery, Derbyshire
'Shorelight' Rockcliffe Gallery, Kirkcudbrightshire
Spring Fling, Rockcliffe Gallery, Kirkcudbrightshire
Faed Gallery, Gatehouse of Fleet, Kirkcudbrightshire
National Exhibition of Wildlife Art, Wirral, Merseyside
British BirdFair, Rutland Water
SOC Exhibition, Waterston House, Aberlady
'Art on the Wing' MacLaurin Galleries, Ayr
20/20 Exhibition, Gracefield Galleries, Dumfries
Birdscapes Gallery, Holt, Norfolk
RSPB Exhibition, Gallery of Modern Art, Edinburgh
Society of Wildlife Artists, Mall Galleries, London
House of Bruar Gallery, Blair Atholl

Awards:

Birdwatch Magazine 'Bird Artist of the Year' 2007
RSPB Art Award 2006 Commended
Award winner National Exhibition Of Wildlife Art 2001, 2004 and 2006

For information about commissions or paintings currently available for sale, please email john@johnthrelfall.co.uk.