Holiday Issue 2021

LUXLIFE MAGAZINE | 5 Artist Hannah Shergold announces June Mayfair exhibition in collaboration with PrinceWilliam’s conservation charity Tusk Artist Hannah Shergold has announced her new body of work, Collection TWENTY ONE, in collaboration with Prince William’s African wildlife conservation charity Tusk. The collection, which is inspired by Tusk’s incredible conservation work, will preview at La Galleria, Pall Mall, from 21st – 27th June, a significant date that marks the end of England’s long journey to lift Covid restrictions. 20% of all sales from the collection will be donated to Tusk in support of their work to ensure the survival of threatened species in the wild. The exhibition coincides with Tusk’s virtual Lewa Safari Marathon on Saturday 26th June, which this year will be run by supporters all over the world and by marathon world record holder Eliud Kipchoge in Kenya. Shergold’s exhibition provides an alternative for those unable to lace up their running shoes but who are still keen to support the recovery of wildlife and communities that have been devasted by the Covid pandemic in Kenya. Shergold’s established, sought-after style is as eye-catching as it is exclusive. The 8 specially selected works will include lion, elephant, rhino, and zebra. Vibrant oil colours applied with palette knives are dragged across the canvas, weaving geometric patterns to create the illusion of depth and movement. Shergold comments: “This method helps to keep the energy in my work. Build it, break it, fix it, balance it - I leave the viewer with only the necessary details. Shapes and lines disappear and re-emerge, in and out of focus. My personal challenge is to find the balance between realism and abstract.” She goes on to say: “One of the best things to come out of 2020 was the relationship I now have with the wonderful team at Tusk. Species conservation and habitat preservation have never been higher on the agenda, particularly with the UK hosting the UN Climate Change Conference later this year. I feel we all have a part to play, and where ‘doing our bit’ isn’t enough, we must all try to ‘do our best’ with the skills and experience we have.” Since leaving her job as an Army helicopter pilot in April 2018, Shergold has held four immensely successful, independent exhibitions. She has donated over £150,000 to her chosen charities: £50,000 to the UK Invictus Games team in 2018; £65,000 to the Born Free Foundation in 2019 and, despite the significant impact of Covid in 2020, almost £40,000 to Tusk. Tusk Chief Executive Charlie Mayhew MBE comments: “During the Covid pandemic the loss of tourism and donor income had a huge impact on the ability of our projects to carry on their essential work. As we look forward to recovering from this extraordinary year we really do feel lucky to have Hannah’s continued support, backed up by her energy, enthusiasm and imaginative approach to fundraising. Despite huge personal financial risk, Hannah’s efforts help ensure vital Tusk- funded programmes will be able to survive into the future.” As an artist, Hannah’s achievements include being selected as the official artist for Team UK at the Invictus Games in Sydney and being chosen as the wild card for Sky Arts Portrait Artist of the Year 2019 where she painted Top Boy and Bulletproof actor Ashley Walters. Shergold’s background, however, is far from traditional; a Cambridge Veterinary student with a Mastersin Zoology; a 9-year military career as a Lynx helicopter pilot with tours of Germany, Canada, Kenya and Afghanistan; a fully self-represented artistic career with solo exhibitions in prime central London. And what prompted the transition? Whilst flying medical evacuations in Kenya Hannah passed the time on standby by sketching the varied local wildlife, and so began the rise of one of the most successful self-representing artists in the UK today. Hannah-Shergold ©AndyBarnham-2018