Steven Lingham - Fine art - The latest news from Steven Lingham

Steven Lingham, fine art - wildlife artist

Latest News from Steven Lingham

I thought it might be of interest to add a small item entitled "On the Easel".
The idea being to give you some insider's information of what is coming up next.
I will keep this item at the top of this page for ease of use.

On the Easel...

1. Grey Partridges within a Winter scene (oils)
2. Alaskan Steller's Jay (commission) (oils)

New Sri Lanka Page
As promised, I have added a new page dedicated to the birds & animals of Sri Lanka, all the new images that I paint will be added onto this page as and when they are completed. You can find the page within the collective Birds page, which I have changed from the miscellaneous page, and moved all the kingfisher images into a second page added onto the Small Birds page.

Birds in Art Acceptance
I am very proud to announce that one of my paintings "King Henry" has been accepted into the very prestigious Birds in Art Exhibition, at the Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum, in Wisconsin, USA. This long-established and arguably the World's most highly regarded wildlife art exhibition, only accepts the highest standard of artworks for it's inclusion, and therefore I feel very honoured to be acknowledged alongside that of approximately only 115 other juried artists, (world wide) including the likes of Carl Brenders & Robert Bateman. It is the very first time that I have submitted any of my artworks to the exhibition, and thanks to my success my paintings will reach a wider international audience.

Sri Lanka
I have recently returned from a wonderful trip to the Island of Sri Lanka where I was delighted to see an abundance of the most colourful wildlife, which was not only living in the national parks, but amongst the people in cities & towns.
Birds such as Bee Eaters, Kingfishers (of many species), Eagles, Purple Coot, Paradise Flycatchers, Junglefowl to name but a few.
I stayed in Yala national park, which is renowned for it's wild Leopards, and yes I did see one, and manage to photograph it for a future painting!
Wild Asian Elephants, Mongooses, Sloth Bears & Spotted Deers were also in abundance at Yala.
My main inspiration to visit the country was to see the wild Peafowl, a bird that I have spent many hours painting over the last year, which I'm happy to report I did see.
My first painting will be of an ancient Buddhist temple, which will feature a pair of wild Peafowl upon its crumbling masonry. This painting I had in mind before I even stepped off the aeroplane, and I was delighted to come across a temple as I had envisaged.

AFC Monthly Conservation Artist Award for January 2010
I have been given the AFC's monthly artist's award to celebrate my commitment and contribution to the AFC's mission, by featuring me as the January, 2010, recipient of the AFC Monthly Conservation Artist Award. The Award is made each month to a member of the Group who has demonstrated a combination of artistic excellence and who has made an extraordinary contribution to the conservation cause. Other recipients of the monthly award have included Robert Bateman, John Banovich, David Shepherd & Simon Combes to name but a few. You can visit the AFC website by following this link www.natureartists.com

A Visit to Turbary Woods
I would like to thank Andy Bilsborough and staff at Turbary Woods in Preston, Lancashire, for their kind hospitality on my recent visit. Andy and his friends are all volunteers at the sanctuary, and work very hard to rehabilitate rescued birds, most of which are owls and other birds of prey. I was able to photograph many of the birds, which will enable me to use for future paintings. Checkers the Eurasian Eagle Owl is a particular favourite with the visitors, and I was lucky enough to fly Checkers to the glove on my visit. I recommend Turbary woods to all members of the public, and especially to other wildlife artists and photographers, as Andy is more than accommodating to those who require good photographic reference. The sanctuary is open all year round, and is truly worth a visit.
To see Checkers in slow motion flight click on this link- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LA6XSrM0V_0

Best British Wildlife Painting
It has been announced that I have won first prize for the 'Best British Wildlife' painting, in the Marwell International Wildlife Art Society's annual exhibition. The painting entitled 'All Done', featuring a Female Sparrowhawk, (having devoured a Wood Pigeon, and about to take flight), scooped the prize at the MIWAS's 11th annual exhibition. The painting along with over 600 other paintings can be seen and purchased at the exhibition, which runs from 27th- 30th August. See the events page for further information.

Success at The Festival of Falconry
I would like to thank all those of you who visited me at the Festival of Falconry, it was nice to see familiar faces and of cause make some sales too.
This year I had my own pitch on site as well as exhibiting my work in the official art marquee.
One painting in particular seemed to gain a lot of attention, the 'Gyr Falcon portrait' also caught the eye of a Sheik from Abu Dhabi, so much so that the Sheik purchased it to add to his collection, and is interested in seeing more of my future work.

The Naked Portrait Series
I have launched the first in a new body of paintings entitled "The Naked Portrait Series", which strips the subject away from it's natural environment, and places it in an imaginary "portrait studio" environment, the subject is then painted as though posing for it's portrait, and capturing the quintessential character of each species. The first in the series is entitled 'A Country Gentleman', which features a male Ringnecked Pheasant in his prime, the bird is strutting with an arrogant look upon his face, and a pose that tells all his admirers that he is the top Pheasant.
I intend to capture the true spirit of each species, and have ideas to paint all of the popular game birds in this new series including Grey Partridge, Red-Legged Partridge, Red Grouse & Woodcock to name but a few. So watch this space!

Prize winner
At the 2008 MIWAS exhibition I was awarded two prizes for my paintings. One prize was for the winner of the “Best Bird Picture” (2D only), for my painting entitled “Nesting Robins”. The second prize was runner up for the British Wildlife category (All mediums), for my painting entitled “Winter Roe Doe”. The prizes were presented to me by the BBC wildlife camera man and TV presenter Simon King.