The National Exhibition of Wildlife Art (NEWA) is an open exhibition of art inspired by wildlife. Pets, botanical art, domestic species and landscapes are inadmissible. The exhibition includes paintings, sculptures, original prints, mosaics, drawings and pastels, and submissions are welcomed from both amateur and professional artists.

Originally conceived to bring wildlife art to an audience outside London, NEWA has settled in to a regular summer fixture at the Gordale Garden Centre in the Wirral. Don’t be deterred by the garden centre venue – this exhibition has a purpose built and well lit display space, colour catalogue, an audience of over 15,000 and sells internationally.

Plus points for artists are a dozen regional handing-in venues, online registration and website links. Furthermore an online gallery gives artists a year long platform for their work. Buyers can purchase from the gallery or online.

This year expenses for the artist were approximately £50 which included entry fee, transport of work between collection point and exhibition and a website link.

NEWA shows around 350 works, with many offerings being sidelined due to space restrictions. The artist chooses how many works to submit: one large, two medium or three small pieces. Each year a different panel of judges selects from the original works rather than photographic copies.

In my experience the subject matter is usually biased in favour of “popular” species – big cats, owls, primates – and a hyper-realistic style. Whether this stems from judges selecting according to their preferences or artists submitting what they believe to be saleable is impossible to say without being a member of the judging panel.

I always submit work that is based on my experience of the subject and so is individual to me. Since many of the NEWA audience visit each year it’s a good opportunity to build familiarity with my work.

NEWA prides itself on showing “outstanding examples of wildlife art from both professional and amateur artists”. Whilst encouraging undiscovered artists to exhibit is to be applauded, this policy means that some weaker works are accepted, leading to an exhibition that is not as strong as it might be. Although the majority are of a very high standard, not all the works are “outstanding”.

Despite this, sales are usually in the region of 40% which, in the current economic climate, is a figure many galleries would be pleased to emulate. Selling prices range from just over a hundred pounds to several thousand. NEWA takes a commission of 27½% and can negotiate with the buyer over price on the artist’s behalf (by prior agreement with the artist).

Overall it’s a well organised exhibition with more plus points than negatives.

 
 

Jackie Garner is a professional wildlife artist who has exhibited with NEWA for several years. She also exhibits with the Society of Wildlife Artists, has held two solo exhibitions in London and has taken part in numerous group exhibitions. Her paintings of wildlife have been shown on BBC television and are held in collections as far afield as the Falklands, Trinidad, Australia and South Africa.

View her work at www.jackiegarner.co.uk

 
 

   

Posted on Wednesday, August 10th, 2011 at 9:49 pm in Exhibition and competition reviews       |  RSS feed Comments and pings are currently closed.