My love of coastal wildlife began many years ago when I worked on an inshore fishing boat. This was the start of my fascination for coastal landscapes.
Wading birds are a favourite subject and often the best place to see them is on the salt marsh. So over the years I have grown to value these marshlands. I enjoy studying and sketching this unique habitat. A sense of place is important as wildlife is never seen in isolation but as part of the landscape.
I have been drawing and painting since childhood, so for more years than a care to remember. I paint mainly in watercolour, though as I am self-taught I have picked up my own methods of using this medium. Water, light and movement constantly fascinate me and birds in flight I find very exciting.
I am fortunate to have exhibited my work at some great venues over the years including:
- Society of Wildlife Artists, Mall Galleries, London. This is a very prestigious gallery near Buckingham Palace.
- The Wildlife Art Society International. Their annual exhibition takes place at Nature in Art in near Gloucester.
- Scottish Ornithologists’ Club. A beautiful gallery made even more special by a great view over Aberlady salt marsh!
- Cornwall Birdwatching and Preservation Society. They kindly invited me to take part in their centennial exhibition.
- Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust, Slimbridge. My local birding centre as it’s HQ is just upstream from my salt marshes.”
You can see some of my paintings and woodcuts on my website at www.ukwildlifeart.co.uk
Awesome !
Hope to see your marshlands and your sketches in person someday,
V K Nanda
This is wonderful. I cannot believe that you are self taught. The atmosphere and the detail are finely executed. As in your writing, the love of your land shines through. A very well organized blog.
Avi