A WILDLIFE artist from south Warwickshire is preparing to share her passion.
Louise Hancox will be participating in Warwickshire Open Studios Summer Art Weeks, giving people the chance to watch her work live and chat about her extraordinary artistic journey.
Louise, who lives in Tanworth-in-Arden, never considered herself creative until she uncovered a hidden artistic streak during a break from
her role as a chief financial officer in 2020.
Fast-forward four years and she is now an award-winning animal artist. Louise works in a variety of mediums but her subjects are always animals – inspired by
wildlife adventures during her corporate days.
She told The Observer: “I’ve swum with turtles in the Galapagos, hiked
bear trails in British Columbia, and watched gorills with awe in Uganda’s
Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. Becoming an animal artist feels like the most
natural thing in the world.”
And she clearly has a talent for capturing the natural world, having just
been announced as a finalist in the prestigious David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation (DSWF) Wildlife Artist of the Year 2024, an internationally renowned wildlife art competition and exhibition.
“I’m practically bursting with joy,” she said. “Being selected feels like winning
a golden ticket to the Oscars of Wildlife Art. With 17,500 entries and nearly £2million raised for wildlife conservation since 2008, this competition isn’t just about showcasing wildlife art – it’s about making a real difference for our planet’s precious creatures.”
Louise’s shortlisted piece, “Infinite Shadows, Singular Light II,” was
inspired by her time with gorillas in the wild.
She explained “It’s a poignant piece capturing the expressive beauty of the gorilla. Shadow and light symbolise the delicate balance between existence and extinction. I hope it speaks volumes without uttering a single word.”
The work will be showcased at the Mall Galleries, London, from
July 2 to 6. The exhibition will feature artworks from around the world,
ranging from recycled plastic sculptures to intricate pencil drawings and
vibrant oil paintings.
Alongside the physical exhibition, all shortlisted works will be part of an online exhibition from June 26 to July 6.
As part of Warwickshire Open Studios, Louise will be at St Laurence Church in Rowington, near Warwick, from June 28 to 30. Entry is free.
Visit www.warwickshireopenstudios.org for more on Warwickshire Open Studios Summer Art Weeks, and www.louisehancoxfineart.co.uk for more on Louise’s work.
