Ian Davie

During his childhood Ian Davie had an avid, hands on fascination in local flora and fauna and continuing this throughout his adult life, has been lucky enough to work in daily contact with wildlife in some of Britain’s most beautiful natural scenic environments; on a farm, as a gamekeeper and for the Environment Agency. Ian Davie now works from home, a converted farmhouse at the heart of the Snowdonia National Park, with inspirational views and an array of neighbouring wildlife. His extensive knowledge of wildlife and their habitats, gained over many years, is now skilfully employed when creating a painting.

Having a desire to find a natural and sustainable 'canvas' on which to paint, led Ian Davie to utilise a swan’s feather he had picked up some years earlier. He could not have found a more unique and beautiful ‘canvas’ on which to paint wildlife compositions. After the amazing response to this initial painting, a more consistent supply of feathers was required. All the feathers now come from a bird reserve where the wardens collect them off the ground during the swan’s annual moult and Ian Davie is proud that for every feather used a generous donation is made towards the reserve from where they came, benefiting all the wildlife. Being a totally natural canvas there is no environmental cost in their production, no electricity or chemicals used therefore in a very small way reducing the carbon footprint and not adding to the global warming effect. Feathers make a surprisingly stable canvas on which to paint, having been preserved in their natural form since the times of the Egyptian Pharaoh’s (c.1323BC). Swans are a noble and regal bird, have links to the Queen, a prominent place in mythology and some of the largest feathers to be found on any British bird. Feathers used range from 14 inches to an impressive 18 inches (46cm) in length.

When merging one of Ian Davies meticulous paintings with a feather, natures own 3-Dimensional work of art, the unique result is exquisite and has met with high acclaim. The inevitable success started with the Museum Of Modern Art for Wales approached Ian to host an exhibition, after seeing examples of his work. Other successful exhibitions soon followed, including a spectacular display of his work held at The Cheng-Kim Loke Gallery, Slimbridge to coincide with their 60th anniversary. 2006 saw Ian Davie enter three works to the National Exhibition of Wildlife Art (NEWA) with every one being judged, selected and a total sell-out. Once again in 2007 all three if Ian's paintings surpassed the very high judging standards. 2007 found interest in Ian Davie's unique worth reach London with examples being shown in the exclusive Sheraton Park Hotel. The Wildlife Art Society International also took note of Ian Davie's considerable talent and awarded him the prestigious Gold Citation on the 2nd of September 2007. Media attention has been substantial with numerous articles in magazines such as Wildscape, Bird's Illustrated, Cheshire Life, etc and the forthcoming book on Swans by Peter Young has a section on Ian's work.

Pushing the boundaries of wildlife art with their unique, breathtaking presentation makes Ian Davie's paintings eminently collectable and has led to a considerable demand for his work.

Ian Davie undertakes commissions of any British Wildlife.

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