Isobel Buckley
‘In the Still of The Morning’
11.5”x8.5”
Coloured Pencils
Reference: own photos for tiger and Pixabay and imagination for background
I am a realistic wildlife and pet portrait artist who likes to create a striking visual impact through attention to detail and colour intensity. I enjoy studying animals and their expressions, which allows me to add character to them in my work, bringing them to life. Having grown up on a dairy farm, I have always been passionate about animals and nature. I studied art at school and then university, gaining a fine arts degree. It wasn’t until about 10 years ago though that I really developed a love of drawing animals when I visited the Big Cat Sanctuary on a workshop. It was around this time that I also discovered coloured pencils and fell in love with them! I love working with wax pencils as I find they give me the creamy finish that I love, and I have built up a very large collection of pencils over the years! Having studied photography at A-level, I love photographing animals, particularly big cats and then using my photos as reference for my artwork.
Being an Early Years teacher, art was my relaxation time in holidays. I then started to get asked to do commissions for people and I had success with competitions and I started to make a part time business for myself. I now am a stay at home mum of two-year twins and while I have lots of ideas of how I would like to take my art forward including combining my love of teaching with coloured pencils to run workshops, I have very limited time and so it’s taking me a little while to reach my goals!
Publications:
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October 2017 – Artist Showcase in Ann Kullberg’s Color Magazine with ‘I’ve Got My Eye on You’
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CP Treasure Book Volume 5 – ‘Along Came A Tiger’
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2015 – write up in local newspaper MK Citizen about me as an artist and being shortlisted for David Shepherd’s Wildlife Artist of the Year
Awards:
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2010 – I won sponsor’s choice with ‘On the Lookout’ in the ‘Simply the Best’ competition run by ‘Leisure Painter’
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August 2012 – I won the Ken Bromley art cover competition with ‘Sleeping Lion’ and my work was on the front of their Autumn/Winter Catalogue.
Other Achievements:
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July 2015 – shortlisted for the David Shepherd Wildlife Artist of the Year competition and exhibited at the Mall Galleries London with ‘In the Still of the Morning’ which sold at exhibition.
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July 2017 – selected and exhibited at Exhibition of Wildlife Art (EWA)
‘I’ve Got My Eye on You’
8”x12”
Coloured pencils
Reference: own photos
‘Along Came A Tiger’
15”x11.5”
Coloured pencils
Reference: own photos and imagination
‘Trunks of Love’
12”x12”
Coloured pencils
Reference: photos from wet canvas library