Ian Griffiths (Griff)
Wildlife Artist

"A promising wildlife artist."
Sir Peter Scott (conservationist,

author and artist) commenting in 1971 on Griff's first paintings.

"The feather details is excellent."
Ian Wallace (Ornithologist, artist and author) after a critique in 1984.

"The paintings are great - thanks for the support."
Professor David Bellamy (conservationist and  botanist) after supporting the Bellamy awards in 2002 (still involved).

"These images are breathtaking. Marvelous!  an excellent artist."
Paul Montag (editor), Wildlife art magazine.

born in Yorkshire in 1956.

I cannot say I was good at art in school and did not relate to the more modern styles taught to us preferring to paint birds than cans of soup, but I did manage an 'O' level by painting vultures and a string of garlic. 'A' level lasted a year and I took a seasonal job on the East coast which became full time and lasted until 2002, although I always thought of it as a hobby, painting was still my main ambition but work allowed me to travel in the winter and took me to marvelous locations around the coast from Sutherland to Cornwall and many places in between.

I paint what I see and my field sketches are the cornerstone to my finished work. I take great pride and satisfaction in field sketching preferring to capture to feeling or 'jiz' of the subject rather than too much detail. My paintings have been described as photographic but I would describe them as realistic leaving the highly detailed painting to others. I prefer to capture the atmosphere, mood and the relationship between the subject and its environment than to paint every last feather. If need be I can refer to other material for feather tracks, etc.

I started painting wildlife again after a move to Embo in Sutherland, a wonderful winter wildfowl haunt, and with a house virtually on the beach how could I not be inspired, during this time I met David Bellamy and he asked me to work on several conservation and environmental awareness programs for the holiday industry.

It wasn't until December 2006 that I finally turned full time after moving to the Lizard in Cornwall this is 35 years after sir Peter Scott gave me encouragement

In my first 18 months my work has been exhibited in several exhibitions and galleries and sales have been tremendous with half of all works going to Europe and the USA . My work has also been featured in several magazine.

I have also had 2 paintings excepted for the Artists for Conservation's first juried exhibition at the Hiram Blauvelt art museum in New Jersey , USA .

My studio is part of an artist cooperative gallery in Helstons older area of church Street. There are 19 artists who regular exhibit from potters to abstract artists and 3 studios occupied by Paul Wadsworth - artist, Carole Black well - ceramicist and my self.. Our studios are situated through the gallery and around a courtyard, great suntrap.

© 2007 Ian Griffiths  |  Links