Winner of The Artist Award in the David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation’s 2021 Wildlife Artist of the Year exhibition with her woodcut Curlew in the Estuary - But for How Long? Hilary Kington says: ‘It’s a bittersweet moment. It’s always great to have your work chosen, but sad that the curlew now qualifies in the Facing Extinction category. Just a few years ago, Facing Extinction seemed reserved for exotic creatures and big hitters like elephants, rhinos and gorillas, but now it has reached the humble curlew.’
Hilary Kington creates woodcut prints and watercolour paintings in soft, muted colours, capturing the essence of the wildlife she observes in their natural habitats. Intensely aware of diminishing numbers, she draws attention to conservation issues as an important part of her work. ‘I live on the coast, so I have a particular love of wetlands and salt marshes. To tell the stories of these creatures and places, I often inscribe messages into my hand-printed woodcuts. It‘s only when we know about the problems that these animals and environments face, that we can play a part in protecting them.’
Lifetime’s passion
‘What began as a couple of months of salt marsh sketching has turned into years of fascination. My body of work continues to grow and
