Above : Virginia McKenna unveils the
lion statue
Click here to read about the creation
of the Lion Sculpture
Below : A selection of the paintings
which were included in the Exhibition
now
available as a limited edition print - click here
now
available as a limited edition print - click here
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Painted
With Pride
Held : 18th June – 3rd July 2011
Venue : The Gallery, Brookvale House,
Oaker, Matlock, Derbyshire, DE4 2JJ
(AA Signposted) 01629 55851 (admission free)
Please note : the road layout in Matlock
has recently changed. Click for directions.
Last Summer, Pollyanna Pickering was invited to paint one of
the most unusual pieces of artwork she has ever completed –
a life size lion sculpture. The lion ‘Good Morning Africa’
was unveiled by Virginia McKenna at the Born Free Foundation’s
‘Pride in the Park’ event before joining the rest
of a forty strong pride on the streets of Northampton. The exhibition
‘Pride of Northampton’ brought an explosion of colour
and excitement to the City’s streets and open spaces,
capturing the hearts and imagination of both residents and visitors.
At the beginning of September, the Pride of Northampton lions
came off the streets, were given a new coat of paint and auctioned
off for charity by celebrity auctioneer Jonty Hearnden. Pollyanna
was delighted to be able to attend – and even more delighted,
when despite fierce opposition - including telephone bids -
she was able to secure the highest bid for ‘her’
lion, and bring him home to the Peak District. “After
spending so long working on the lion it was a real wrench to
see him taken away from my gallery to go on public exhibition”
she commented. “I had never worked on a 3 dimensional
piece of art before – and I thought it would be wonderful
to give the visitors to my gallery the opportunity to see him
as well.”
The auction raised approx. £65,000 which was divided
between the Born Free Foundation and the Cynthia Spencer Hospice.
Pollyanna’s lion ‘Good Morning Africa’ achieved
one of the top three highest prices of all the forty lions sold
on the evening.
‘Good Morning Africa’ then formed the centrepiece
of Pollyanna’s 2011 Summer Exhibition ‘Painted with
Pride’. Visitors to her private gallery had the first
opportunity to view the lion following the close of the Pride
of Northampton event. The exhibition featured over 50 new original
paintings, many inspired by the techniques Pollyanna used to
create the design for her sculpture. ‘Good Morning Africa’
includes imagery inspired by prehistoric African Rock Art, alongside
script and lettering, and Pollyanna has expanded these ideas
and inspirations to create some unique and innovative artwork
for the exhibition. On display alongside these pieces were a
selection of more ‘traditional’ canvases featuring
endangered wildlife Pollyanna has painted on her journeys around
the globe.
A percentage of all sales from the exhibition, which will run
from 18th June – 1st July 10.00am – 6.00pm at Brookvale
House, Oaker, Matlock, Derbyshire DE4 2JJ. (AA Signposted) again
supported a vital conservation project. The Pollyanna Pickering
Foundation is raising funds to build an enclosure to shelter
highly endangered orphaned wild dog cubs in a wildlife sanctuary
in Namibia.
Click here to read about the creation
of the Lion Sculpture
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