Society of Wildlife Artists

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Artists are invited to submit work for exhibition alongside members of the Society of Wildlife Artists at the SWLA 60th Annual Exhibition, The Natural Eye 2023.

The Society seeks submissions of works that depict wildlife subjects and evoke the spirit of the natural world.

The Selection Committee welcomes all forms of three and two-dimensional artwork that is based on representing the world’s wildlife. The Committee is particularly keen to encourage artists with fresh visions to submit work that shows imagination, artistic ability, originality and genuine creativity, and which reveals a personal experience or true understanding of the subject. 

There are prizes and awards on offer, worth over £5,000 (see 'Prizes & Awards' below).

Submissions are now closed

The focus of the Society’s year is our annual exhibition, The Natural Eye. This is an open exhibition, held every autumn at Mall Galleries. It is a showcase for the very best of art inspired by the natural world.

Harriet Mead - President

How to Submit

A single-stage virtual judging of all submitted works will take place, after which selected works should be delivered to Mall Galleries, London, for inclusion in the exhibition:

- Upload images of your work to our Open Exhibition Submission System by 12 noon on Friday 8 September 2023

Note: Images must be in JPEG format and under 5MB. Please ensure that photographs are accurate and show work at its best. It is worth noting that sometimes work is let down by poor photography including reflections on glass, out of focus images or images that are angled from being propped against a wall when photographed. Such lack of care reflects badly on entrants and does not help the task of selecting work. Sculptors in particular should use plain backgrounds and make the most of the option to add multiple views of submissions.

- Log in to the OESS from 12 noon on Friday 22 September to see if your work has been selected

- If selected, deliver your work on Saturday 21 October, 10am to 5pm, to Mall Galleries, 17 Carlton House Terrace, London SW1Y 5BD

Prizes & Awards

There are many prizes and awards available to win, including:

The Birdwatch and Swarovski Optik Artist of the Year Award: A prize of an ATS 80 HD spotting scope with 25-50x zoom eyepiece (with a value of £2,430), plus subscription to BirdGuides/Birdwatch

The BIRDscapes Gallery 'Conservation through Art' Award: £1,000 divided equally between the winning artist and a conservation organisation or project of their choice

RSPB Award: £500

The Swarovski Optik New Artist Award: £250 for the best non-member work in the show

Trymwood Studios Art Prize: Trymwood Studios is delighted to announce the launch of the Trymwood Studios Art Prize.

This is a new competition open to all exhibitors at The Natural Eye and will be judged by the founding members of the Trymwood Studios project. The winner will receive the exciting opportunity of a solo exhibition at Trymwood Studios in 2024. This unique competition intends to identify and celebrate artists that engage with the natural world, producing work informed by a significant drawing element, during or after sustained periods of fieldwork.

Trymwood Studios is a special art gallery and studio space in Westbury-on-Trym, Bristol. Established in 2019 by Nik Pollard, Lucy Pedlar and Hannah Athayde, the project works to inspire a love of art and nature through carefully curated exhibitions of artwork and an exciting education programme. The winner of the Trymwood Studios Art Prize will be invited to exhibit their work in a solo show, receiving the team's full curatorial and marketing support. 

The Michael Harding Oil Painting Prize: £500 of art materials

The Michael Harding Watercolour Painting Prize: £500 of art materials

Art Safari Works on Paper Award: £250. Art Safari offers a new prize to artists working on paper in any media, showing an artist’s engagement with wildlife and the environment. Encouraging artists to have their feet on the ground and experience the natural wonders of the world since 1999, Art Safari offers painting holidays and workshops worldwide.

Mall Galleries / FBA Award: Ten free submissions to exhibitions by the Federation of British Artists at Mall Galleries (worth up to £200) for a non-member exhibitor

Dry Red Press Award: The winning work reproduced as a greetings card

Subject to final confirmation

Important Dates

Submissions open: Monday 3 July 2023, 12 noon

Submissions close: Friday 8 September, 12 noon

Notification of selection: Friday 22 September, 12 noon

Receiving Day (if selected): Saturday 21 October, 10am to 5pm

Private View (invite only): Wednesday 1 November, 2pm to 8pm, official opening at 3pm

Exhibition opens: Thursday 2 November, 10am to 5pm daily

Exhibition closes: Saturday 11 November, 5pm

Collection of unsold work: Thursday 16 November, 10am to 5pm

Conditions of Entry

Eligibility

  • Any artist over 18 may submit.
  • Work should be based on representing the world’s wildlife. Wildlife includes any non-domestic animal such as birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, fish, crustaceans and insects. Work will not be accepted if it is of botanical subjects, pets and domestic animals, or decorative wares (such as vessels or tiles). 
  • Works depicting wildlife divorced from its environment or without place, setting or context are rejected in many cases. Biological or scientific illustrations are in most cases not permissible.
  • The Society receives many submissions that are obviously direct copies from photographs. Whilst some of the member artists use photographs for reference, the majority of artists create their work in response to their own experience of wildlife and spend many hours observing and sketching in the field. This knowledge of the subject is evident in the resulting work. Artists thinking of submitting should consider choosing a subject to which they can have access.
  • Acceptable media: Work may be in any medium including drawing, painting, sculpture and original prints (if prints, please detail edition and how many are available). The SWLA is keen to embrace new and innovative mediums and will accept computer-generated images as ‘original prints’. However, a digital print is only considered an original print if it was created by the artist to be realised specifically as a print. Reproductions of paintings or photographs will not be accepted.
  • Maximum of six works submitted, maximum of six works selected.
  • Works should not be larger than 2.4m along the longest dimension.
  • Work must have been completed within the last three years.
  • Work exhibited previously at Mall Galleries is not admissible.

Entry Fee

  • There is a non-refundable submission fee of £20 per work for standard entries and £14 per work for artists aged 35 or under. The entry fee includes free admission to the exhibition, normally £5.

Presentation, Delivery & Collection

  • Artists are encouraged to choose simple plain frames and mounts that will suit the exhibition and not detract from the work itself or interfere with adjacent works when exhibited in the galleries.
  • Frames or stretchers should be sufficiently substantial to withstand mirror plating with 12mm size 6 screws.
  • Metal frames, clip frames, and diffused picture glass are inadmissible.
  • No hooks are required and there should be no projections whatsoever from the back of the works. This is to prevent damage to other works.
  • Packaging from delivered works cannot be retained and must be taken away at the point of delivery. We are unable to wrap works or provide wrapping materials for any works being returned.
  • Any uncollected works may be removed from the gallery after the collection day and stored by an independent courier company at the artist's expense.
  • If works are not collected within 12 months of the collection day, the gallery will be entitled to destroy, sell, or otherwise dispose of the works without consent, prior notification, or compensation to the artist.
  • Artists are responsible for the full costs of delivery and collection.
  • Artists sending work from abroad should use a picture carrier. Many artists use Picture Post Art as they offer a packing and delivery service for our exhibitions (we do not accept any liability for their services). Picture Post Art - Tel: 07833 450788 / Email: info@picturepostcompany.co.uk

Selection

  • The Selection Committee is formed of artist members of the Society and is rotated annually.
  • Selectors' decisions are final and we are unable to offer feedback.
  • Works that are poorly presented or differ significantly from the photograph entered will not be exhibited.

Sales

  • All work must be for sale. The price of works must include commission of 45%+VAT (please note that where foundry fees apply, foundry costs will be deducted before commission is calculated).
  • Minimum price: £200 - except for prints: framed £120, unframed £95 (buyers will not be charged for postage and packaging of unframed prints, so please ensure the price of unframed prints allows for this).
  • Unless otherwise advised, the gallery will charge a commission on the total price paid for works, including commissioned works, before, during, or as a result of the exhibition.
  • The price of works must include commission of 45%+VAT (please note that where foundry fees apply, foundry costs will be deducted before commission is calculated). If an artist is registered for VAT, then the VAT due on the selling price of the works should be included in the price submitted.
  • Once work has been submitted, any sale made by the gallery before or during the course of the exhibition shall take precedence and supersede one made privately. Any private sale will incur the normal commission.
  • The price provided is the selling price and is the price that the work must be sold at. This price can only be changed by prior written agreement between the gallery and the artist of the relevant work. The gallery reserves the right to query the price of works.
  • International Artists: Artists who are not resident in the UK but are resident in the EU or elsewhere are welcome to submit work. If your work is sold at the exhibition you have a responsibility to register and account for UK VAT with H.M. Revenue & Customs. Artists without a UK residence (known as 'NETPs' - non-established taxable persons) can find further details on 'NETP' status and how to register for VAT at http://www.hmrc.gov.uk (HM Revenue & Customs Reference: Notice 700/1, Mar 2014) under the heading 'Should I be registered for VAT?' Please note: the registration process can take up to 4 weeks. Please address any questions you may have to the VAT Helpline on tel. no. 0300 200 3700 or Outside UK: +44 2920 501 261.

Intellectual Property Rights

  • All works must be an original creation by the artist.
  • The copyright and all other intellectual property rights will remain with the artist. If any rights are owned by a third party, that third party will remain the owner.
  • The gallery has the right to reproduce works in connection with the exhibition.

Personal Data

  • The gallery will hold personal data in accordance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). However the gallery may provide third parties with an artist’s contact details in the course of administering exhibitions, commissions and prizes. 

Liability & Indemnity

  • The gallery is not responsible for any loss of, or any damage to, works entrusted to them. All goods are at artist owner’s risk absolutely and the gallery and/or their agents exclude all liability to the maximum extent permitted by law. The galleries are used for various purposes and so artists are advised to insure their works against all risks.
  • The gallery endeavours to take good care of works sent for exhibition, but in the event of a work sent being lost, destroyed or damaged the gallery’s liability (if any) shall not exceed the value of the work as stated at the time of submission (less 45% plus VAT) or any altered price subsequently.
  • In the event of any dispute regarding loss or damage, the dispute shall be referred for final arbitration to an independent expert valuer to be chosen by agreement between the parties, provided that the arbitrator’s award shall not exceed the gallery’s maximum liability as above.
  • Artists shall indemnify and keep indemnified the gallery against any actions between the artist and any third party.

Couriers

Mainland UK

If you are unable to deliver or collect your work in person, the following art couriers may be able to do so on your behalf:
 

Art Moves of Chelsea

London, Kent, Surrey, Sussex and Bristol

Email: artmoveschelsea@aol.com

Tel: 020 7352 7492 
 

Picture Post Art

Scotland, the North of England and Birmingham

Email: info@picturepostcompany.co.uk

Tel: 07833 450788
 

3 Lanes Transport

Cornwall, Devon, Somerset and Dorset

Email: info@3lanes.com

Tel: 01736 799298 / 07970 948324
 

JD Art Transport

Leicester, Loughborough, Coventry, Birmingham and Nottingham

Email: jdarttransport@gmail.com

Tel: +447825339787
 

Mid Wales Freight

Wales

Email: enquiries@midwalesfreight.co.uk

Tel: 07866 731400 / 01974 282500

 

A S Elvin Transport Ltd

Norfolk/Suffolk

Email: bernadette@elvingroup.co.uk

Tel: 01502 677025
 

Aardvark Art Services

Nationwide

Tel: 01253 794673
 

Artists with Transit Van

London

www.artistswithtransitvan.com

International

Artists sending work from abroad should use a picture carrier. Many artists use Picture Post Art as they offer a packing and delivery service for our exhibitions:
 

Picture Post Art

International

Email: info@picturepostcompany.co.uk

Tel: 07833 450788
 

We do not accept any liability for their services

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