An English Country Garden - Pollyanna's Christmas Exhibition

Above - A garden sketchbook - included in the exhibition

An English Country Garden – Pollyanna Pickering Christmas Exhibition
Date : 19th November - 4th December 10.00am - 6.00pm
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 printable directions.

Every winter Pollyanna opens her private gallery in Derbyshire for an exhibition inspired by her love of British Wildlife.

Visitors to the gallery can view over fifty original paintings on display to the public for the very first time, in a relaxed and comfortable atmosphere. On exhibition this year will be a remarkable new collection of work inspired by Pollyanna’s love of the English Country Garden.

Pollyanna’s paintings celebrate the wildlife we can all see close to home –from the garden birds which nest in our hedgerows and visit our bird tables to the owls which hoot in the trees at dusk.
Other nocturnal visitors captured on canvas include badges, foxes, and hedgehogs – the gardeners’ friend!

Many of the birds and animals featured in the paintings were cared for by Pollyanna in the animal sanctuary she ran for fifteen years. The lavishly illustrated book 'A Brush with Wildlife', which will be available throughout the exhibition, is filled with anecdotes of the trials and tribulations of a wildlife artist whose life and home is taken over by a succession of wild creatures and provides a fascinating insight into the inspiration behind Pollyanna's paintings. The exhibition will also see the exclusive launch of new limited edition prints of British Wildlife.

Also on public exhibition for the very first time will be the dramatic work 'What Have we done.......' which secured the Environmental Concern Award in the 2011 Wildlife Artist of the Year Awards. “It was wonderful to have this aspect of my work recognised in these prestigious awards” Pollyanna commented “Especially as this year’s exhibition features paintings of wildlife like hedgehogs and sparrows which we all take for granted in our gardens – but which are becoming increasingly endangered.”

Above - 'Tyto Alba' - included in the exhibition

Browse at your leisure through the latest additions to Pollyanna's extensive ranges of greetings cards, fine art and limited edition prints, and a wide variety of gift ware featuring her work, including stationery, china mugs, cross stitch kits, signed sets of her postage stamps issued in Africa, and first day covers for the Royal Mail alongside an exclusive display of the latest selection of gift ware commissioned by Harrods. There will be over 150 Christmas card designs for you to choose from, including the latest charity cards designed by Pollyanna for Guide dogs for the Blind, the RSPCA, Cats Protection League, The Wildlife Trust, and Blue Cross among many others.

Six new fine art calendars of her work will be available for 2012, along with a new range of eco-friendly wrapping paper and cards, and even Christmas decorations featuring her designs!

In the gallery at the 2010 Exhibition

Ten percent of all sales at the event will raise funds to build new aviaries at the Secret World wildlife hospital, while funds raised by a Prize Draw for an original painting will support The Badger Trust, of which Pollyanna is patron.

Pollyanna’s last winter exhibition was described as ‘Inspiring’ and ‘An essential diary date’ by English Home Magazine – why not visit and discover for yourself the beauty of Britain’s wildlife as painted by Pollyanna.

A selection of the prints and giftware on display