Alan Hunt Artist Biography
#Wildlife
Alan has been painting for over 50 years. In that time, he has captured thousands of images of wildlife from around the world. He has travelled extensively on field trips to destinations such as Madagascar, Alaska, Peru and Antarctica – to name just a few! Alan is a native of the North of England and has studied the fauna of Yorkshire. For the last five years, he has been living in France and has enjoyed getting to know the birds of the mid and southern regions and learning their migratory routes over his backyard.
Alan is best known for the diversity of his subject matter. He began painting at the age of eight when his mother gave him a box of paints to occupy him as he recuperated from an illness. His fascination with birds provided excellent material for his first paintings. But he soon moved on to capture the natural world around him on canvas. His paintings of garden birds soon developed into raptors (birds of prey) and then on to mammals of all shapes and sizes.
Alan’s motivation has always been to conserve the world’s wildlife for future generations. Through his art, his mission is to impart some of the love, experience and concern for these animals and to protect the environment and wildlife we share this planet with. Painting the big cats of Africa and Asia has enabled significant fundraising efforts for numerous trusts across these regions.
First studying art at Middlesbrough Art College, Alan then decided to study Zoology at Leeds College and Bristol University. His first solo exhibition at age 18 was held in his home town of Redcar, England. Since then his original paintings have been shown in museums, galleries and public and private collections worldwide. Alan has received international acclaim, winning The Society of Animal Artists’ (USA) Award of Excellence on four occasions and The Wildlife Art Society’s UK Best Artist on Show for three consecutive years. Alan has been the lead artist at five exhibitions in the US and in 1998 was the first non-American to be voted on to the American Wildlife Art Hall of Fame. In 1999, he was chosen as Artist of the Year for the Florida Wildlife Art Expo. Alan’s work has also attracted huge interest at major international auctions including Sotheby’s, Bonham’s and Christie’s and continues to captivate collectors across the World.
In recent years, Alan has stepped away from the exhibition spotlight to explore and develop his style with a particular emphasis on capturing texture, depth and richness. His experiments have yielded feathers, fur and satin of unparalleled realism.
Alan is married to the equestrian artist Judi Kent Pyrah, with whom he has a son, Guy. His stepson Zach Mendelsohn has coordinated international exhibitions for Alan during his time in France.
CAREER TO DATE
2015 Return to the UK to produce a collection of Big Cat Paintings
2009 – 2014 Living, painting and designing in France (Limoges, Roujan, Fontes)
2010 BBC Wildlife Artist of the Year Competition, MIWAS
2003 The Art of Living exhibition Harrods, London (hanging alongside works by Warhol, Picasso, Chagall, Rembrandt, Renoir, Lowry and many of the world’s finest contemporary artists)
2002 Monaco fundraising for Ranthambore Tiger Fund
1999 Artist of the Year, Florida Wildlife Art Festival
1998 The UK Wildlife Art Society
The African Wilderness Portfolio for SAPPI (South Africa) which raised over $1.5 million for South African conservation
Inducted into the American Wildlife Hall of Fame
1997 Washington State Wildlife Art festival, Artist of the Year
1996 Botswana for National Geographic Film with his wife and their son, aged 8
1994-1995 Touring Exhibition to Save the Rain Forest with John Seery Lester and Robert Bateman
1993 Minnesota Wildlife Artist of the Year at Wildlife art festival
1991 Featured Artist of the Year at Buckhorn Wildlife Art Festival-Ontario/Canada
1990 Pacific Rim won International artist of the Year
1989 Pacific Rim wildlife Artist of the Year at Wildlife Expo
Won 1st of 3 Gold medals from US Society of Wildlife Artists
1985 Exhibition in Oman, Jordan, Fund raising for Shaumari Nature Reserve
In this period Alan produced 3 Front page Covers for Bird watching magazine and produced the ICI Calendar 3 years running
1983 Signed for Frame House Galleries, Publishing in Louisville, Kentucky
1983 1st exhibition in USA, Flemington New Jersey/Ark 2 Gallery sell out
At 15 Won local Newspaper Art Comp. with a bird painting, 1st Exhibition at Laing Art Gallery Newcastle, Dorman Museum, then Austen Hayes Gallery , York with 3 solo sell outs. Game Fair UK 4 years all sell outs, Game fair Holland 3years sell outs, Game fair Belgium 1 yr.
During his career, Alan has exhibited alongside John Seery-Lester, Robert Bateman, David Shepherd, Carl Brenders, Raymond Ching, Brian Jarvi, Kim Donaldson, Andrew Ellis, Terry Isaacs, Steve Winterburn and most of the Top Wildlife artists around the world.
Alan judged the Daily Mail's "Not the Turner Prize" competition at the Mall Galleries, London and the "National Children's Art” Competition also at the Mall Galleries, London
Some of the most memorable field trips have been Alaska, Yellowstone, Kenya, Guatemala, India, Nepal, Madagascar, Botswana and the Antarctic. His favourite was playing with the Mountain Gorillas in Rwanda.
Alan is best known for the diversity of his subject matter. He began painting at the age of eight when his mother gave him a box of paints to occupy him as he recuperated from an illness. His fascination with birds provided excellent material for his first paintings. But he soon moved on to capture the natural world around him on canvas. His paintings of garden birds soon developed into raptors (birds of prey) and then on to mammals of all shapes and sizes.
Alan’s motivation has always been to conserve the world’s wildlife for future generations. Through his art, his mission is to impart some of the love, experience and concern for these animals and to protect the environment and wildlife we share this planet with. Painting the big cats of Africa and Asia has enabled significant fundraising efforts for numerous trusts across these regions.
First studying art at Middlesbrough Art College, Alan then decided to study Zoology at Leeds College and Bristol University. His first solo exhibition at age 18 was held in his home town of Redcar, England. Since then his original paintings have been shown in museums, galleries and public and private collections worldwide. Alan has received international acclaim, winning The Society of Animal Artists’ (USA) Award of Excellence on four occasions and The Wildlife Art Society’s UK Best Artist on Show for three consecutive years. Alan has been the lead artist at five exhibitions in the US and in 1998 was the first non-American to be voted on to the American Wildlife Art Hall of Fame. In 1999, he was chosen as Artist of the Year for the Florida Wildlife Art Expo. Alan’s work has also attracted huge interest at major international auctions including Sotheby’s, Bonham’s and Christie’s and continues to captivate collectors across the World.
In recent years, Alan has stepped away from the exhibition spotlight to explore and develop his style with a particular emphasis on capturing texture, depth and richness. His experiments have yielded feathers, fur and satin of unparalleled realism.
Alan is married to the equestrian artist Judi Kent Pyrah, with whom he has a son, Guy. His stepson Zach Mendelsohn has coordinated international exhibitions for Alan during his time in France.
CAREER TO DATE
2015 Return to the UK to produce a collection of Big Cat Paintings
2009 – 2014 Living, painting and designing in France (Limoges, Roujan, Fontes)
2010 BBC Wildlife Artist of the Year Competition, MIWAS
- Category Winner: Animals in their Environment
- Runner-up: BBC Wildlife Artist of the Year
- Six joint and three solo exhibitions
- The Mara Migration Exhibition with Kim Donaldson and Brian Jarvi, and further joint exhibitions in Dubai
- Specialist exhibitions featuring work from a variety of field trips
2003 The Art of Living exhibition Harrods, London (hanging alongside works by Warhol, Picasso, Chagall, Rembrandt, Renoir, Lowry and many of the world’s finest contemporary artists)
2002 Monaco fundraising for Ranthambore Tiger Fund
1999 Artist of the Year, Florida Wildlife Art Festival
1998 The UK Wildlife Art Society
The African Wilderness Portfolio for SAPPI (South Africa) which raised over $1.5 million for South African conservation
Inducted into the American Wildlife Hall of Fame
1997 Washington State Wildlife Art festival, Artist of the Year
1996 Botswana for National Geographic Film with his wife and their son, aged 8
1994-1995 Touring Exhibition to Save the Rain Forest with John Seery Lester and Robert Bateman
1993 Minnesota Wildlife Artist of the Year at Wildlife art festival
1991 Featured Artist of the Year at Buckhorn Wildlife Art Festival-Ontario/Canada
1990 Pacific Rim won International artist of the Year
1989 Pacific Rim wildlife Artist of the Year at Wildlife Expo
Won 1st of 3 Gold medals from US Society of Wildlife Artists
1985 Exhibition in Oman, Jordan, Fund raising for Shaumari Nature Reserve
In this period Alan produced 3 Front page Covers for Bird watching magazine and produced the ICI Calendar 3 years running
1983 Signed for Frame House Galleries, Publishing in Louisville, Kentucky
1983 1st exhibition in USA, Flemington New Jersey/Ark 2 Gallery sell out
At 15 Won local Newspaper Art Comp. with a bird painting, 1st Exhibition at Laing Art Gallery Newcastle, Dorman Museum, then Austen Hayes Gallery , York with 3 solo sell outs. Game Fair UK 4 years all sell outs, Game fair Holland 3years sell outs, Game fair Belgium 1 yr.
During his career, Alan has exhibited alongside John Seery-Lester, Robert Bateman, David Shepherd, Carl Brenders, Raymond Ching, Brian Jarvi, Kim Donaldson, Andrew Ellis, Terry Isaacs, Steve Winterburn and most of the Top Wildlife artists around the world.
Alan judged the Daily Mail's "Not the Turner Prize" competition at the Mall Galleries, London and the "National Children's Art” Competition also at the Mall Galleries, London
Some of the most memorable field trips have been Alaska, Yellowstone, Kenya, Guatemala, India, Nepal, Madagascar, Botswana and the Antarctic. His favourite was playing with the Mountain Gorillas in Rwanda.