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Nigel John Shaw
AFC GOT
Paintings of birds |
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MISSION STATEMENT
Raising awareness and education through art...
There has rarely been a time in Nigel Shaw's life when birds and wildlife have not played an important part. From an early age, as a schoolboy in Blackpool, England, drawing and birds were a part of most days.
Nigel's ability to capture the aura and personality of his subject was evident from the beginning. His first professional show took place at the age of fifteen, when the Davidson Gallery of Toronto, Ontario discovered his work. A sold out show was an indication that his passion for birds and painting was acknowledged by more than just family and close friends.
His first works were done using watercolors, but he felt it lacked what he needed to achieve the effects he desired. Experiments with other mediums brought him to acrylics, which he still uses today. Nigel's approach to his work has led him to paint birds and animals which are not as well known to most people. He feels there are a lot of birds which rival the more common species in both beauty and color. He explains "that if I can pass on a piece of knowledge about the bird in my painting, I have accomplished what I have set out to do. I have found that people like to ask questions about the birds in my paintings and I enjoy explaining how and why the painting came about."
Nigel's drive for accuracy has been both beneficial and imperative to achieve his own satisfaction from his paintings. This drive also led Nigel in another direction, to his knowledge of birds themselves. From the age of eighteen, Nigel has held a bird banding permit with the Canadian Wildlife Service, which has benefited his painting immensely. Not only has he learned about the habits, moults and idiosyncrasies of each bird, but as the saying goes "a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush!". Attention was paid to feather detail, light, shadow, and expressions of each bird. For Nigel this was invaluable for his style of painting. Incorporating this with photographs, sketches, and actual materials, his finished pieces become a moment captured in that bird's life.
Born: 1963, Hyde, England
Resides: Alcona, Ontario
Exhibitions: Davidson Gallery, Toronto, Ontario; Chalmers/Guercio Gallery, Toronto, Ontario; Wild Wings Gallery, Schomberg, Ontario; Hiedleburg Press Trade Show, Toronto, Ontario; York County Hospital, Newmarket, Ontario; Nathan Phillips Square Art Show, Toronto, Ontario; Participant in Ducks Unlimited 2001 Ontario Sponsor Print Competition; Participant in Ducks Unlimited 2001-05 Ontario Duck Stamp,Artist of the Year, & Portfolio competition Deerhurst Resort & Country Club Gallery, Huntsville, Ontario
Florida Wildlife Art Expo, Lakeland Florida, Waterfowl Festival, Easton Maryland, 2003-06, National Exhibition of Wildlife Art, Liverpool, UK 2002-06, Southeastern Wildlife Expo, Charleston, South Carolina 2004-07 Displaying at Gallery on the Lake, Buckhorn,Ontario. One man show , Backyard Birder , Newmarket ON, 2003-04 Artist at Buckhorn Wildlife Art Festival, Buckhorn ON, 2002-07
Nature Art Festival, Jamestown, NY 2005
Commissions: accepted
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Support for Conservation:
Percentage of Sales of Kalahari......African Pygmy Falcon, will be donated to the EWT...Raptor Program, dedicated to the well being and health af the South African raptor population.
Special Achievements:
- 2012 - Flag expedition # 13
- 2011 - Edge of cover
The painting "Edge of cover...Norther saw-whet owl, was commissioned by the Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority to celebrate 60 years of conservation work. 60 prints are also available.
The money raised from sales will further work being done in the Lake Simcoe watershed.
- 2009 - Group of Twelve
http://www.thegroupoftwelve.com
Selected to be member of the group of Twelve
- 2008 - Canadian Wildlife Conservation Stamp Program
'Red white and blue chosen for Prince Edward Island 2008 stamp.
- 2008 - Biallie Birdathon Bird Studies Canada
http://www.bsc-eoc.org
Shaw`s `killdeer study`was chosen for the 2008 shirt and brochure design for the Baillie Birdathon.
- 2006 - Wildlife Habitat Canada
"Morning Post" chosen for print and stamp for 2007
- 2005 - Bird 2005 Intenational
"Freedom's Song" placed second in Beijing China
- 2005 - Habitat Canada
"Morning Post" came in as first runner-up for the 2006 stamp and print competition
- 2005 - Art for the Animal Kingdom Bennington Vermont
"Hive of activity" was purchased by the centre for inclusion in their collection.
- 2005 - Canadian Wildlife Conservation
'Borealis' chosen for British Columbia Conservation stamp 2005
- 2004 - The Rainforest Foundation
http://www.rainforestfoundation.org.uk
"Snake Hunter" juried into the auction and sale at the Air Gallery in London UK
- 2003 - Artist of the year, Florida Ducks Unlimited
- 2002 - Juried into the Society of Animal Artists
Publications:
- Metro Conservation Authority bird checklist (2003)
Illusrations -
- "Life of James L. Ballie"
-cover illustrator -
- Ontario Bird Banding Association Annual Report 1995 & 2000
-Cover Illustration -
- The Hawk Migration Association of North America
Illustrations for Publication of -
- Long Point Bird Observatory
Illustrations for Publications -
- Toronto Bird Observatory
Illustrations for Publications -
Organization Membership:
- 2000 - World Wide Nature Artists Group
- Various Birding Associations
Ontario Bird Banding Association; Past Chairman of Toronto Bird Observatory; Current Chairman of Simcoe County Banding Group; Member of Bird Studies Canada; Member of Alaska Bird Observatory
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Direct Correspondence to:
Nigel Shaw
c/o Nigel Shaw Wildlife Artist
2316 Warrington Way
Innisfil, Ontario
Canada L9S 2C6
Tel: 705-431-2721
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Email: shaw2721@rogers.com
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