Breathtaking lockdown artwork

THE lockdown was like torture for the angling community but it’s been business as usual for wildlife artist David Miller, who’s made the most of the free time to complete a trio of breathtaking sea bass artworks.

The 53-year-old from Pembrokeshire, whose stunning paintings of fish feature on the annual rod licences, has been hard at work over the last two months keeping up with commissions, but admits that painting has been a welcome distraction.

“I guess I’m an expert isolator having been an artist for years, although painting has been like therapy for me,” he tells us. 

“The extra time has meant my imagination has been like a sanctuary, which has taken me back to favourite places and times spent off the coast of Pembrokeshire.”

Each of David’s artworks took around two weeks to craft and could sell for around £1,600. 

To view more of David’s work, visit his website at www.davidmillerart.co.uk

David Miller’s sea bass artwork

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.