David Bennett SWLA | Society of Wildlife Artists

Common Sandpipers and Otter Family
Otters with Octopus
Mountain Hare and Otters
Kingfisher Family
Ring Ouzel Wall

About David Bennett SWLA

Artist details wrap

Biography

Artist's Statement

David Bennett's work encompasses his love of British wildlife from around his home patch of North Yorkshire to the furthest points of the British Isles. He uses a variety of mediums including watercolours, pastels, acrylics and oils to capture birds, mammals and landscapes.

Method of Working

Bennett uses a variety of mediums including watercolours, pastels, acrylics and oils on a wide range of papers and boards.

His sketches, paintings and drawings derive from his experiences with nature, wildlife and the landscapes in which they live. Experiencing these things first hand, sketching and painting them in location, allows him to capture their energy and essence.

Biographical Details

1969 Born on 11 December in Doncaster, South Yorkshire

1989-92 BA (Hons) Graphics/Illustration, Leeds Polytechnic

1993-95 MA Natural History Illustration & Ecological Studies, Royal College of Art, London

1995- Freelance Artist and Illustrator

Society Memberships

Society of Wildlife Artists

Scholarships, Awards, Prizes

‘Daler Rowney Award’, Art in Nature, 1992

Second Prize, ‘European Bird Art Awards’, 1992

‘Sir Peter Scott Memorial Travel Scholarship’, Art in Nature, 1993

First Prize, ‘European Bird Art Awards’, 1993

‘Foundation Travel Scholarship to Extremadura’, Artists for Nature (‘Flight of the Cranes’ project), 1994

Runner-up, ‘Natural World Art Awards’, 1995

‘Birdwatch Harpercollins Artist of the Year’ (Winner of the Colour Section), 1997

First Prize, ‘BBC Wildlife Magazine Art Awards’, 1998

First Prize, ‘RSPB Magazine Painting Competition’, 2001

‘Royal Society for the Protection of Birds Award’, Society of Wildlife Artists, 2006

Exhibitions

The Natural Eye 2015

Other exhibitions

Solo Exhibitions:
2004 ‘March Hare’, Wildlife Art Gallery, Lavenham

2004 WWT, London Wetland Centre

2002 The Eye of the Wind Gallery, Arundel Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust, West Sussex

2000/03 Slimbridge Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust

1998/99/2002 Wildlife Art Gallery, Lavenham

1997 Doncaster Museum & Art Gallery

Group Exhibitions:
2007 Exhibition & Book Launch, Wildlife Art Gallery, Lavenham

2005 ‘On the Edge’, Edinburgh

2002 ‘2nd International Exhibition of Animals in Contemporary Art’, Barcelona, Spain, touring Torino, Italy

1999 ‘Observing Otters’, Wildlife Art Gallery, Lavenham

Publications

‘True to Form’, Langford Press, 2007

‘RSPB Birds Magazine’, Autumn 2006

‘On the Edge’, Langford Press, 2005

‘RSPB Birds Magazine’, Summer 2002

‘BBC Wildlife Magazine’, July 2002

“Nature into Art” and “Lapwings”, ‘Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust Magazine’, September 2001

‘Drawn to the Forest’, 2000

‘Modern Wildlife Painters’, 1999

‘Copper River Delta’, 1998

‘Flight of the Cranes’, ANF Publication, 1995

‘Dagenham Bird Report’, 1993/94

‘Gibraltar Point Field Guide’, 1987

‘Lincolnshire South Humberside Red Data Book’, 1987