Finalist in the BBC Wildlife Artist of the Year 2012

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Finalist in the BBC wildlife artist of the Year 2012 – Alan Hunt is a renowned UK wildlife artist notably recognized for his bird paintings.

Born in Leicestershire where he still has his studio, a love of drawing is one of his earliest  recollections and the inspiration for drawing birds came from Sir Peter Scott.  His BBC natural history series “Look” which started in 1955 pioneered television coverage of natural history and was principally filmed from Slimbridge where Scott founded what is now the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust.  Scott was also an internationally acclaimed artist.

This combination of conservation, bird watching and art interested Alan from an early age with an influence taken from being an avid viewer of the “Look” series.

His drawing skills were put to good use in helping identification whilst bird watching which developed into painting what he saw.  This also brought an appreciation  of conservation as to the importance of protecting habitat which in turn was vital to conserving wildlife.

Educated at Loughborough Grammar School, art was his favorite subject where painting the school play scenery took preference over maths or latin!

Also a keen rugby player representing the school at scrum half, he admits to sometimes taking his eye off the ball distracted by a hovering kestrel or on one occasion allowing the opposition winger through to score a try whilst turning his gaze to a passing sparrow hawk.

On leaving school he qualified as a chartered surveyor but his painting played an ever increasing part of his life.  Predominantly working in watercolour, his bird and landscape paintings became sought after acquisitions with prints and cards being sold through the National Trust, Marks & Spencer and John Lewis.

Varied commissions include a painting of the City Ground for Nottingham Forest FC to celebrate the centenary of their ground and a portrait of Princess Diana to raise monies for local charities.

However wildlife art is what he spends all his painting life on believing that also through his art a greater awareness of conservation is appreciated.

He is a Signature Member of the Artists for Conservation and a keen member and supporter of the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds.