CHRIS ROSE

"My desire to paint wildlife, particularly birds, stems from a deep fascination and respect for the natural world and a wish to share my excitement for the subject through my paintings."

Chris spent the first few years of his life in Uganda and this experience, coupled with an early passion for drawing and painting inspired by seeing the work of great wildlife painters in books collected by his father, led to his life-long interest in the natural world.

Chris studied biology at Nottingham University but was unable to find work as a biologist after graduating. Instead, an offer came up for a one-year placement as an illustrator at the Dorset Heritage Coast Project and Chris realised he had found his true vocation.

Chris's subsequent success as a wildlife artist, including numerous solo and mixed exhibitions in locations as far afield as Paris, Singapore, Japan and the USA, has led to some exciting projects. In 2010 he spent five weeks on the sub-Antarctic island of South Georgia with fellow artist John Gale, drawing and painting the wildlife and landscape to raise awareness of the RSPB's Save the Albatross campaign. He has also taken part in several conservation projects with the Artists for Nature foundation in Peru, Ecuador, Poland and Spain.

In addition to his own painting Chris has illustrated many bird books. His latest, Robins and Chats of the World by Peter Clements, is due to be published in 2015 and will contain 64 full-colour plates depicting 150 species. Chris has also had his own book, In a Natural Light; The Wildlife Art of Chris Rose, focusing on his paintings of British birds published by Langford Press. Chris was awarded the title Bird Illustrator of the Year by the British Birds Journal in 1986 and European Bird Artist of the Year three times in 1991, 2001 and 2005.

Chris was elected to the Society of Wildlife Artists in 1984 and is currently serving as their secretary. Between 2003 and 2009 he also served on the board of the Federation of British Artists.