Artwork for Shelly Perkins
Castle Storm
The Undersells
Moon meditation
Coming home
Curlews Clutch
Superiority
The Gentle Journey
Elemental
Details
Because my techniques are still quite unusual there isn't a definitive title for the prints that I produce, whilst they are in essence 'digital prints' they are not solely created on the computer but are a highbred of line work, painting and digital collage techniques. In the same way that an etching artist would have a finished 'plate' to print from, I have a file. I produce all my prints myself and they are the only tangible output for the artwork, they are not 'copies' of an original painting but are the original from the 'master' file. I always limit the number of editions to 50 to keep them in line with traditional printing runs and so that customers are buying a very limited edition piece of art.
My work is influenced by wildlife and landscape and the inspiration for that comes from many sources. I am fortunate enough to have visited all seven continents to view wildlife in its natural habitat and its important that those travels and first hand experiences are translated into my artwork. Whilst selling my work as an artist is important I also use my work to champion the natural places I have visited and the flora and fauna that inhabit them. I have worked for many wildlife organisations including the RSPB, VWT, WWF and The National Trust creating commissioned artwork for their conservation projects. I have also supported many more wildlife organisations through donating work, giving talks and sharing their vital work on my social media platforms. Giving back to the natural world is a very important part of my work and I hope that my art makes people feel empathy for and connection with the natural places it depicts. In January 2017 I was fortunate enough to travel to Antarctica as Artist in Residence with the Royal Navy, this journey has been hugely influential in my career.
I am a wildlife artist selling limited edition, mixed media prints. I create my work using a mix of traditional and digital techniques. My work starts with detailed line drawings, painted textures and textiles. Those elements are scanned into the computer and bought together using a range of collage techniques. I use Adobe photoshop to enable me to layer up my hand rendered elements and create works that have great depth and texture. My finished 'originals' are computer files often comprising more than 100 layers. Once complete the files are 'flattened' and I print each image in a limited edition run of 50. My work is recognisable through my signature line work and high level of saturated colour, often using limited palettes and strong lighting and contrast.
Much of my time as an artist is spent producing my artwork for sale in galleries and at a range of exhibitions through the year. However I also run a limited amount of courses and workshops. I lead painting holidays for an art holiday company and I also run photoshop courses teaching other creatives how the use the programme for their own work. These run over three days and are an intensive introduction to the programme.
My love for drawing started at a young age and carried on through my eduction up to my degree in Illustration at Bristol School of Art.
Art in the Pen - Skipton
Bird Fair - Rutland water
Artist in residence - Nature in Art
Bath Art Fair
Craft in Focus - Hyde Hall
Clay Barn collective - Redhill
International Contemporary - Oxford
Antarctica - A creative journey - Polar Museum - Cambridge (March 2022 - August 2022)
My main stockist/outlet is my cooperative gallery in Ludlow - The Artists' Gallery. www.theartistsgalleryludlow.co.uk
We established this outlet in October 2019 and run it as an artist managed space with the 8 of us taking it in turns to be at the gallery each day.
I also have my work in a range of galleries throughout the UK which changes year on year:
Spotty Dog, Tenbury Wells
The Waterperry gallery, Waterperry Gardens, Oxford
The Jardine Gallery, Perth
