The Natural Eye, the annual exhibition of the Society of Wildlife Artists, shows the very best of art inspired by the natural world. The open exhibition shows a wide range of contemporary work from both members and non-members which celebrates the wild whether it is close to home or further afield. The different approaches to the subject ensures a delightful mix of the detailed to the more abstract in many different mediums including oils, watercolours, pastels, printmaking, drawing and sculpture.

Many of our artists set great store by understanding their subject and working from life. This is reflected in the major SWLA collaboration with the British Trust for Ornithology, showing fieldwork from our artists depicting summer migrants in the UK, and the collaboration with the RSPB to document the creation of a major new wetland reserve at Wallasea Island in Essex.

Chris Rose, winner of the Wildlife Trusts Undersea Art Award will display work inspired by his experiences diving off the UK coast. Chris’s diving training has featured on BBC’s Countryfile.

The SWLA’s support of emerging artists continues by awarding bursaries to attend the Seabird Drawing Course in Scotland, the latest three recipients will have selected work on show.

As well as the works on display being for sale, many of the artists are available to commission to produce work especially for you.

We were recently approached by a client who had seen and fallen in love with a work by Simon Turney SWLA which had sold before she could purchase it. Commissioning an artwork allows art lovers to purchase a painting in a similar vein to one that they might have missed out on buying in the gallery. However it adds something to that experience too. It is a chance to have a conversation with the artist, to be involved in the creative process, to reflect on what is is that you love about their work.

In this case our client, Christine Down, was particularly drawn to Simon's Barn Owl watercolours. Commissioning Simon to paint a further work in this genre allowed the artist to revist these beautiful birds and bought Christine's interests into the equation.

Christine Down said:
"The Commissions Service at Mall Galleries put me in touch with Simon who accepted my commission for a barn owl. The watercolour he produced is an amazingly realistic study of a barn owl sitting on a branch and is beautifully painted. Commissioning a picture from the artist makes it very special."

There will be a number of events held during the exhibition including artist’s talks, portfolio day and printmaking workshops. For more details www.swla.co.uk