Victoria Edwards SWLA

Statement

A natural history Artist/Illustrator, much of Victoria Edward's work is inspired by reptiles and, at the moment, predominantly birds. From inland, partly wooded reserves to the mysteriously barren Dungeness, Kent has many habitats for birds that have proved invaluable inspiration, while, further afield, her study of them has taken her to some fascinating countries, including Egypt, South Africa, Botswana, Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands.

Methodology

Victoria works with a wide range of materials, including graphite, coloured pencils and oils. Her subject matter is predominantly wildlife, with reptiles and birds featuring largely in her work. In the studio, she tends to work on just one or two pieces at a time, with each piece taking up to a couple of months to complete. Victoria always sketches her subjects from life, occasionally from specimens in a wild animal collection, but mostly in the field, the latter being especially helpful as only in the animal's habitat is it possible to record a true account of natural behaviour and how they conduct their life in relation to their environment. Sketching from life enables her to get the most essential visual marks down first, which results in a sound understanding of the subject she is drawing/painting and hopefully produces fresh and exciting compositional ideas from which she can work whilst back in the studio.

Bio

1974 Born on 22 June in Ashford, Kent

1990-92 National Diploma of Design, Graphic Design & Illustration at Kent Institute of Art & Design, Rochester, Kent

1992-95 BA (Hons) in Illustration, University of Westminster, Harrow, Middlesex

1995-97 MA in Natural History Illustration & Ecological Studies, Royal College of Art, London

2000-02 Commissioned to produce illustrations of prehistoric and extinct animals for the Natural History Museum Picture Library, London, both for their collection and the Museum's website, including the NHM Dino Directory

2005 Elected a Member of the Society of Wildlife Artists

Memberships

RCA