Award winning artist, Paul Dixon, was born in Scotland but grew up in
St. Ives, Cornwall, England. As a child, he had a natural flair for
drawing and spent many hours will pad and pencil in and around the
Cornish countryside which is where he also developed a keen interest
in natural history. He has had no formal art training other than art
lessons at school.
In 1981, Paul emigrated to South Africa where he experienced
first-hand the African wildlife, in it’s natural habitat, sparking off
a love affair with the African bush. Inspired by his initial bush
encounters, he began trying to capture the atmosphere and light, which
is so unique to Africa in his preferred medium of pastel.
In 1996, his work was accepted by Christies of London for their
prestigious Wildlife Art Auction and subsequently sold every piece
offered in the next seven consecutive wildlife art sales.
More work was offered in November 2007 and March 2010 and again all
the work was sold, achieving personal record prices for Paul.
November 2010 will see the next work offered by Paul at Christies
South Kensington in their “Sporting Art, Wildlife and Dogs” auction.
During 2000, Paul was elected as a signature member of the *Society of
Animal Artists, New York and in 2002 he was elected a signature member
of the Pastel Society of America, both very prestigious organizations
where members are elected by a panel of jurors.
In 2003, Paul was a finalist in the “Pastel Artist International”
magazine with his painting of a bull elephant entitled “Zambezi Dawn”
and subsequently wrote an article, as a featured artist, for the
magazine (Issue no. 14).
Paul’s paintings have been published on numerous occasions and have
been reproduced as limited edition prints and giclees.
In 2005, Paul began painting in oil on canvas, keeping his own style
and maintaining the ‘pastel’ effect and appearance, which has won
him an award as a finalist in the “International Artist” magazine.
He believes in living the experience and makes as many trips to the
bush as possible, collecting reference material and rekindling the
inspiration for new works.
Paul’s work can be found in private and corporate collections in more
than two dozen countries around the world. He has recently accepted a
commission from the Sultan of Oman for two oil paintings, which are
now hanging in the new wing of the palace.
In 2008 Paul held a very successful solo exhibition in Swakopmund,
Namibia. His work is now available on a permanent basis in Namibia
through the appointment of a sole agent in Swakopmund.
During 2009, Paul was a featured artist in the “International Artist”
magazine, with a write-up about himself and his work.
Two large works of Paul’s were commissioned for the prestigious new
hotel “Qasr-al-Sarab” near Dubai and now take pride of place in the
main entrance-foyer of the hotel. Subsequently future commissions are
on the cards for other hotels in the Middle East.
Paul’s work was selected for the “Art and the Animal” exhibition and
National tour of Galleries and Museums in North America for a year
during 2009/10 with the Society of Animal Artists, in the US. This is
one of the most prestigious Exhibitions of Wildlife Art anywhere in
the world and Paul’s was hung amongst the best on the planet. The work
toured the following venues in the US:
·
Rolling Hills Wildlife Adventure, Kansas
·
The Wildlife Experience, Colorado
·
Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum Art Institute
·
Greenacres Art Centre, Ohio
·
Dunnegan Gallery of Art, Missouri
·
Ward Museum of Wildfowl Art, Salisbury University,
Maryland
*The Society of Animal
Artists
is an organization comprised of members who produce
the best animal art in the world. The membership roster of the SAA
reads like a “Who’s Who” of the world’s most significant artists
working in the genre of animal art today.
Membership is coveted by leading painters and sculptors around the
globe, and just being accepted as a member of this esteemed
organization is a real achievement.
A
selection panel of nine jurors awards membership and the applicant’s
work is evaluated for:
· Good
composition/design
· Thorough
understanding of animal anatomy, behaviour and environment
· A
distinctive style and
· Mastery
of their chosen medium
Only those artists who have attained the highest levels of artistic
achievement are offered the opportunity to become members of the SAA.
Signature Members
(of which
Paul is one) are considered to have reached the highest level of
artistic achievement and are allowed using the
S.A.A. initials after their
signature.
Paul’s work has been selected for inclusion in the 50th
Anniversary SAA Exhibition for 2010/2011 to be held at the San Diego
Natural History Museum, California and the subsequent “Art and the
Animal” tour.
Paul is married with two sons and paints daily in his studio/gallery
in Simon’s Town, Cape Town, South Africa.
Telephone: +27 (0) 21 786 5141 (during working hours)
+27 (0) 21 785 1603 (after hours)
Mobile: +27 (0) 82 788 5888
E-mail:
wildart@mweb.co.za
Web:
www.paulbdixon.com