Edition 47: Summer 2009

A stunning watercolour has won Australian artist Pamela Conder the prestigious title of Wildlife Artist of the Year 2009. The title, supported by the David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation (DSWF), comes with a cash prize of £10,000, generously donated by the exhibition sponsors.

“I was absolutely amazed to hear that I had won when they called, and so sad that I couldn’t be at the gallery to collect my prize,” said Pamela Conder, speaking from her home in Victoria. “I’d seen the short-listed entries on line and knew that the standard was high, so I didn’t think I had a chance. It’s wonderful to know that my work willd support endangered wildlife – it’s something very close to my heart.”

Due to Pamela’s absence at the evening reception at London’s Mall Galleries on Monday 1st June, the prize was presented to David Shepherd CBE on Pamela’s behalf from Sir Michael Parkinson. Also on show at the galleries were over 100 works of art short-listed for the competition. Each item was for sale, with the half the proceeds benefiting endangered wildlife.

“There is such a wide variety of styles to suit all tastes, and such a depth of quality, that I feel honoured to be associated with the Wildlife Artist of the Year competition and the David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation – they do such a great job for conservation,” said Sir Michael Parkinson.

“The quality of entries this year was quite outstanding,” says founder and president of DSWF, the wildlife artist and conservationist David Shepherd CBE. “As one of the judges, I was extremely impressed and I am looking forward to the same high standard for next year’s competition.”

Details of Wildlife Artist of the Year 2010 were announced at the event on June 1st with entries now being accepted from all professional and amateur artists over 17 years of age. Full details and rules can be found at www.davidshepherd.org and www.wildlifeartistoftheyear.org.