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Artists   Frances Ackland-Snow   Sean Curley   David Dancey-Wood    Biography    At Work    Showcase   David Dipnall   Anne Farrall Doyle   Terry Freemantle   Scott McGregor   Jennifer Reed   Dominique Salm   Mandy Shepherd   Lesley Thiel   Penny Warden Featured Artist David Dancey-Wood Eddi   Since my early childhood I have desired nothing more than to become an artist using my skill on a daily basis to earn a living. I never dreamed that I would succeed to where I am today and that so many people would be generous enough not only to believe in me, but also to invest hard earned money in my work. Although many think it is an easy life or even the dream job it still has the pitfalls and troubles of any career. I find my inspirations and motivations come in fits and starts and like so many artists I work best under pressure. Having been professionally trained as an illustrator I have installed an amount of discipline in my working life without which it would be impossible to maintain standards and deadlines essential to this industry. I am somewhat of a perfectionist and I often agonise over the smallest of details which others may not even see, but I am a believer in only ever being as good as my last picture. David Dancey-Wood at Kaiter Falls, Guyana I am frequently asked many questions including what pencils I use, what is my next picture and where am I going next. Without doubt the question that is asked the most is how long does each picture take. I find it hard to answer this question as every picture is different and the speed of its completion depends on many factors from the texture of the animals fur in each picture to how I am feeling at the time of each drawing. Working with wildlife Working with wildlife is a joy and it is often a dream to fulfill my passion for animals and conservation through my work. The opportunity to travel and see many of my subjects in the flesh is something I could never take for granted, how could anybody not be grateful when seeing any of the great apes in the wild? I admit that if I was destined to only ever draw animals from captive collections I do not think I could carry on, there is nothing like the adrenalin rush and thrill of seeing animals behaving and living as they should in the wild. Having the opportunity to help the very creatures that I am drawing through my work is an honour for me, it is very important to give back more than I have taken from the environment. I am passionate about the rainforest and if what I am doing can raise even a tiny amount of awareness at all for the animals and plants that inhabit this fragile ecosystem under threat, then I will be a very happy man. David Dancey-Wood working with wildlife