New Species of Snub-nosed Monkey

I've had to keep very quiet about this for the past few weeks, but today the American Journal of Primatology announces the discovery of a new species of primate, the Myanmar snub-nosed monkey (Rhinopithecus strykeri).

© Martin Aveling/Fauna & Flora International

The research that led to this exciting discovery was carried out by the Myanmar Biodiversity and Nature Conservation Association (BANCA), and supported by an international team of primatologists from Fauna & Flora International (FFI) and the People Resources and Conservation Foundation (PRFC). The new monkey was named in honour of John Styker, President and Founder of the Arcus Foundation, who supported the project. As there are currently no images of a living specimen, I was commissioned to produce this illustration for identification purposes. As far as I know, it is the first ever drawing of this new species of monkey.

Sightings of the monkey have been reported from the eastern Himalayas to the north-eastern Kachin state, and it is believed that there are between 260-330 individuals, making it critically endangered. Although the species is new to science, the local people know it well, claiming it's actually quite easy to spot when it rains, because its upturned nose often fills up with water, causing it to sneeze!

Together with their partner organisations, FFI are taking immediate action to safeguard the survival of this important new species.

Elephant Mural in Ghana

I've now posted this video on my own YouTube channel...

Tusk Trust Christie's Auction

In celebration of the Tusk Trust's 20 year anniversary, their co-founder Sir Timothy Ackroyd, is putting together a compilation book of drawings, sketches, doodles and short stories by an extensive collection of know personalities, artists and authors. All the artwork will be auctioned at Christie's later this month to raise funds for the charity.

I donated a piece to the cause. Unfortunately it was too late to be included in the book, but it will be auctioned along with the other lots on the 20th September. To preview the artwork, or to register an interest, click here.

Society of Wildlife Artists 2010

I've had two pieces accepted into this year's Society of Wildlife Artists exhibition, which runs from the 22nd September - 2nd October (10am - 5pm daily).

The World's Most Endangered Ape

I recently did an illustration for an article on gibbons in BBC Wildlife Magazine. Helen Chatterjee talks about how she first became interested in gibbonology, and why this fascination has persisted for the past 35 years.

The Hainan gibbon is the world's most endangered ape, with fewer than 25 individuals remaining in the wild. Fauna & Flora International has been implementing an environmental education program over several years on Hainan Island, just off the coast of southern China. More recently they have been supporting the nature reserve to directly strengthen protection of this species in its habitat.

Elephant Parade Grand Auction

The London Elephant Parade concluded yesterday, with approximately £4 million raised for Asian elephant conservation. A live auction, hosted by Sotheby's, took place on Saturday, and Nanook sold for £9,500.

I am thrilled with the amount raised, which will help fund conservation projects supported by Fauna & Flora International and Elephant Family. I am equally pleased with Nanook's new home, where I know he will be very well looked after.

Parading Nanook

Here is the video from a couple of Saturdays ago, with Nanook in Green Park. On a miserably wet day, spirits were still high, and credit to Ben Westaway for putting this together under difficult conditions.

Telegraph MY SPACE feature

BBC Wildlife Artist of the Year 2010

This year I had 2 pieces shortlisted for the BBC Wildlife Artist of the Year competition. The final round of judging took place at Marwell Hotel in Winchester on the 17th May.

"Zebra Crossing" was runner-up in the "Visions of Nature" category, and will be credited in the August issue of BBC Wildlife Magazine.

Mongabay.com article

Nanook was given a mention on the popular environmental science and conservation news site, Mongabay.com.

Click here to read the full article.

Auction for Snow Leopards

Sibylle Noras, editor of Saving Snow Leopards, donated one of my prints to an auction in Melbourne last Friday, to raise funds for the Australian Himalayan Foundation.

I'm thrilled to say that it eventually fetched an incredible 1,500 AUD (approximately £915), which will go towards protecting snow leopards in the wild. To read the article on the Saving Snow Leopards blog, click here.

Tough act to follow..

It was a real privilege meeting FFI's Tuy Sereivathana, who was recently awarded the Goldman Environmental Prize for his work addressing human-elephant conflict in Cambodia. 

I introduced him to Nanook in Green Park after his meeting with president Obama in Washington. Vathana, also known as "Uncle Elephant", was one of the first Cambodian ambassadors to meet the president. He hopes that this will help draw attention to the plight of the endangered Asian elephant, within the US and around the world.

Reunited with Nanook

BBC Cambridgeshire News

BBC Cambridgeshire News have done a feature on Nanook and FFI's Goldman Environmental Prize winner, Tuy Sereivathana. To read the article, click here.

Wildlife Artist of the Year 2010

The finalists for the David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation's "Wildlife Artist of the Year 2010" exhibition have been announced.

All 100 shortlisted works, as well as information about the exhibition dates and times, can be viewed here:


I have one piece in this year's show. I've also had 2 pieces shortlisted for the BBC Wildlife Artist of the Year 2010 event. The final round of judging for that takes place on the 17th May.

"Zebra Crossing" (Pastel Pencils)

Creating Nanook - Elephant Parade London 2010

Exhibition at Port Lympne Wild Animal Park

Port Lympne Wild Animal Park (near Ashford in Kent) are holding an exhibition of wildlife art, between the 2nd - 11th April.

I will be displaying four works, and a percentage of any sales from the show will go to The Aspinall Foundation. Further details on the website:

Elephant mural

Here's the gift I left for our host in Tamale, Ghana.

Dulwich OnView On Elephant Parade

DOV have done a short piece on the process of painting Nanook. Read the full article here.

Colour My World

I've just had some brilliant photos sent through, to use as source material, from my friends at Colour My World. Have a look through Steve and Donna's fantastic albums and read about their various travels around the world...

Nanook

(Click here to read about the painting process)