Thanks to the generosity of the artists and their own personal passions for protecting Somerset’s precious habitats and wildlife that inspire their artwork at a time they need it most, the Trust already has over 50 pieces of artwork available for the very special online auction - with all proceeds going directly to fund the work that the Trust does to protect nature and wildlife across the county.

There is something for all artistic tastes, from paintings and textiles to sculptures and ceramics - some artists have also donated art classes - and more artwork will be coming online over the next few weeks.

Bidding opens at 7pm on Friday 2nd April and closes on Friday 30th April at 9pm.

Kate Wilson, Community and Events Fundraising Manager says, “Nature has been critical in people’s ability to get through lockdown. Our supporters have been telling us how they’ve found solace in our wild places and nature reserves to help improve their mental wellbeing. 

“It’s absolutely wonderful that this amazing group of creative people have come together to help us celebrate the wonderful landscapes and wildlife we have here in Somerset, in the hope that it will provide visual inspiration to people to find ways to protect it for the next generation - and also to raise much needed funds.  Spring is of course one of the best times to celebrate nature and new beginnings as we look forward to getting out into nature more as the lockdown restrictions start to ease.

“This is people’s opportunity to bag a beautiful artwork celebrating Somerset’s wildlife for a great price – a lovely gift for the art or nature-lover in your life – or simply a chance to decorate your own home with the beauty of Somerset. So dig deep and #BidForWildlife.” 

Tremendous thanks go to all the artists for so very generously donating their work in order to raise funds to help us protect the wildlife they, and all of us, care so much about in Somerset. These include: 
-    Julia Manning, local print maker, who has been the driving force behind this auction after raising almost £5,000 from auctioning her original prints in aid of Somerset Wildlife Trust in 2019. Julia has once again donated several pieces, including brand new work produced during lockdown. 
-    Jackie Curtis, a Somerset based print maker who finds inspiration from the natural world, is making a short series of monoprints specifically for this auction. Her prints will use woodgrain to reflect the contours of the fields.  
-    Sky Siouki, a Bristol based artist inspired by nature, wildlife and expressionism who aims to raise awareness of critically endangered species. Sky has produced a piece especially for the auction, illustrating the Pine marten. Currently a critically endangered species in England, with hope for their recovery through a reintroduction scheme underway in a neighbouring county. A sighting in Somerset may be very unlikely at present but the hope is that with time they will become abundant once again.
-    Gary Cook, an environmental artist who has donated a piece featuring the Large Blue Butterfly – a species that was wiped out in the UK in 1979, but has been reintroduced to Somerset and is now prevalent on our Green Down nature reserve. 
-    Margaret Micklewright, an artist in Burnham-on-Sea who cycles to our nature reserves on the Levels both for rejuvenation and inspiration, has donated four of her paintings produced on location.

Plus many, many more local artists including Kaye Parmenter, Sam Dodd, Pauline Lerry, Dawn Reader, Jenny Graham, Marielle Ebner-Rijke, Angela Knapp, Caroline Walsh-Waring, Bronwen Bradshaw, Jill Preston, Martyn Fox, Geraldine Boley, Lyn Mowat, Jo Lucksted, Kate Rattray, Rowena Kinsman, Paul Stubbs and more.

To register your interest please visit: www.somersetwildlife.org/auction 
For more information, please contact Kate Wilson at kate.wilson@somersetwildlife.org