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Swansongs

Swansongs

“One regret, dear world,

That I am determined not to have when I am lying on my deathbed

Is that I did not kiss you enough”

Hafiz

 (c. 1320-1389)

This series is exploring the disconnect between us and nature and its consequences

The Velvet Energy

Very recently Shell Oil commissioned seismic tests in the pristine waters off the coast of South Africa, which is home to whales, dolphins and seals, and is one of the important breeding grounds for whales. The tests involve blasting huge sound waves at very regular intervals through the marine environment for many months which would have been ecologically disastrous as well as affecting the local indigenous groups who undertake small-scale fishing in the area.  Fortunately the permission, for the moment anyway, has been withdrawn.

Heathcote-Williams in his loving and poetic tribute to the Whale in his book Whale Nation called the Whale The Velvet Energy.  I can’t think of a better name.

This Humpback Whale was painted on raw canvas and is 7 foot by 4 foot.

Collection

Arctic Edge

Pigment, oil and gesso on raw canvas 5’2”x5.1”

This second painting is the second with the theme of animals hunted to the brink of extinction by man and then brought back from the edge, mainly by man’s efforts.

This time, I have chosen two animals from the Artic regions, the Polar Bear and the fabulous shape of the huge skull of the Musk Ox.

Musk Oxen were hunted on a huge scale for their hides and meat, Today, fortunately, legislation protects herds in Alaska, Canada, Norway, and Siberia, where the animals now live on reserves.

They are also now farmed in some areas and are becoming almost domesticated. The Polar bear though is not so fortunate. As we know his environment is changing so much due to climate changes that it is possible they may not survive.

£1,200.00

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Ghost Sea

Overfishing our world’s oceans has been a problem for a long time and is growing much worse, and the overfishing of Krill in the Antarctic by 130 meter-long trawlers ploughing through the Antarctic wilderness is really quite shocking. The wildlife we have grown up with and come to love through documentaries are competing with trawlers for their food. This is the reality of the ongoing conflict between wildlife and the fishing industry.  Some marine scientists are predicting that if this continues at its present rate, the seas will be empty by 2050.

£650.00

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