The late wildlife artist Pollyanna Pickering faced extreme conditions, from temperatures as low as -60 degrees Celsius to being charged by a wild tiger, to create the collection of paintings that will be showcased in the forthcoming exhibition ‘Burning Bright’.
Artist-Traveller Extraordinaire
Pollyanna Pickering was renowned as an artist-traveller, with a determination to paint only animals she had observed in their natural habitats. This led her on remarkable expeditions into some of the most inhospitable areas of the globe. The exhibition will feature artwork inspired by her fascination with tigers, staged in her private gallery at Brookvale House, Oaker, Matlock, Derbyshire DE4 2JJ (AA Signposted) from June 20-28, 10am-6pm, with free admission.
First Journey to India
Pollyanna first travelled to India in 1990 when she was invited by the Born Free Foundation to sketch and paint the charity’s first wildlife rescue – five tigers rescued from a roadside circus in Kent and flown to the Banerghatta reserve. The book ‘The Eye of the Tiger’, which tells the story of this journey with a foreword by Dame Virginia McKenna, will be available at the exhibition.
Dangerous Encounters
Pollyanna returned to India many times, working with Project Tiger rangers deep in protected reserves. On one occasion, she was charged by a wild tiger – a moment she later recreated on canvas. She also braved -60°C temperatures in the Russian Far East to search for the highly endangered Siberian Tiger, living in a log cabin without running water or electricity, and walking across a frozen river daily to fetch water.
Exhibition Highlights
Previously unseen paintings and sketches from these journeys will be on display, alongside artwork featuring elephants, leopards, and other wildlife sharing the tiger’s habitat. The gallery will also feature Pollyanna's books, greetings cards, fine art prints, and giftware, including new sewing kits launched live on television. A sneak preview of next year’s charity Christmas cards will also be available.
Pollyanna’s daughter and business partner Anna-Louise will be in the gallery throughout the exhibition, happy to chat with visitors. A minimum of 10 per cent of all sales will be donated to worldwide conservation projects through the Pollyanna Pickering Foundation. Full details at www.pollyannapickering.co.uk.
