
Dean Patman’s found-object sculpture of a red underwing moth
Dean Patman
Penny Sarchet
Managing editor, London
I’ve long wanted to attend the Society of Wildlife Artists’ annual Natural Eye exhibition, and a few weeks ago, I finally did. The art showcase ran at the Mall Galleries in London in October, and it is available to browse online until 1 December.
Magazine editor Eleanor Parsons and I began by enthusing about each of the featured species. “Ooh widgeon! Curlew! Long-tailed tits!” Next, we played the “which-would-you-buy” game, only to discover that the piece I liked the most was the least practical: an astonishing found-object sculpture of a red underwing moth (above) by Dean Patman. At the time of writing, it is still available, if you share my appreciation of moths and have £1750 to spare.
In the UK, this is the season of winter migrants, when braving the winds at a muddy wetland rewards you with recently arrived ducks and waders galore. In lieu of an estuary, many of the artworks – in which wetland birds often starred – proved a calming substitute.
Topics:


