Drennan Cup winners immortalised in pencil by artistic specimen-hunter

DETERMINED to keep busy during the lockdown, Ash Bradley, a specimen enthusiast living in Worcestershire, reached for his pencil and paper and began recreating photographs of anglers with their prized catches.

Two-times Drennan Cup winner Dai Gribble was one of the first subjects, with Ash producing a stunning drawing of him with his record-shaking 20lb 10oz bream. 

When Dai saw the high quality of work, he quickly snapped it up for his own collection.

“I’ve been drawing since I was a child, but the interest slowly waned as I grew up and other things took over my life,” Ash tells us.

“When I needed a way to keep my mind occupied while I was stuck indoors, I started dabbling with drawing anglers and their big fish. I showed a few friends my early efforts and they were really impressed. I decided to share my work elsewhere, and I was soon being commissioned by others, including Dave Owen, who asked me to sketch his 3lb-plus roach that recently won a Drennan Cup weekly award.”

Ash isn’t alone in combining his love of fishing and art, with Angling Direct offering kids the chance to download free pictures to colour in of fish in comical settings.

Examples of the entertaining images include a grinning perch preparing to chomp a terrified worm down and a greedy bream tucking into a pile of loosefeed.

The hope is that it will help inspire children to get out on the bank as soon as the current situation allows.