An Artists Statement by Stewart Featherstone

The main subject my work consists of is wildlife because I sense that we have a stronger connection to the natural world than what people would have us believe. I am most inspired by studying the behaviour of a range of species, how they act, move and interact.

My main body of work is produced with three different mediums to get across the different characteristics of the species I am portraying. If I'm after provoking an emotion of cute and cuddly, I will produce an image with watercolours, as to me, this is the best medium for producing soft, elegant looking images. If I'd like to capture a certain stance of power or a distinct feature of the animal, I'd choose pencils to produce a drawing that captures only the essence of the species, ignoring the background. My main medium that I turn to however, is oil. Oils can produce stunningly realistic images with strong dominant colour; they are also very easy to manipulate which makes changing certain elements within the image stress free, even near completion. No matter what medium I decide to use in the end, each work almost the same way, and that is with layers. Layers are the best way to really get that line exactly where it's intended to go through application and correction.

The inspiration to begin an image comes from the experience with the animal in person. This allows me to study an animal from all angles and experience a huge array of behaviours, for example, seeing two otters kissing is very moving. I think the viewers of my work are most interested in my technique more than anything. The majority that have complimented me are delighted to see how simple I make it look to produce a final image that is heavily detailed and fantastically realistic.

So depending on which medium I choose at the start of a new image, gives emphasis on what emotions I am looking to bring out of people and that is the key to producing the image the way I do.

Stewart Featherstone: Passion and commitment produces compelling beauty

We all have dreams... For many of us, that dream is to see the world; to experience the compelling beauty that nature has to offer. If you could capture just one image in a lifetime, one of the greatest sights you have ever witnessed, many would look upon that image as a work of art, a true production of beauty in its rawest forms.

With today's changing atmosphere, wildlife is now taking the spotlight within a lot of our hearts. It's almost every week we hear about either a birth at a zoo or the threat of a certain species. On some occasions we are greeted with the exciting news of a new species being discovered. What this means for artist that are truly inspired and motivated by wildlife and nature, is that we have been privileged with the ability to capture the very essence of the creature we are studying, encapsulating it within time.

Stewart Featherstone Wildlife Art is a website dedicated to my work in hope to show an understanding and an appreciation for the wildlife that surround us and enrich our lives. My work, some say, is diverse in terms of the species portrayed, ranging from mammals, birds and insects to architecture and landscapes. It is my strong belief that without the richness in diversity we have today, the world would be a much less interesting place to live.

'Capturing those quality moments that make life spectacular with a stroke of a brush'