Tony Forrest

"From the age of about six I had a keen interest in painting and was always pestering Dad to help me paint something in my sketch book every day after school. I recall doing ghastly sunsets behind Stonehenge - I still have them! I was a loner at school and always found comfort looking at books about animals. I recall having the feeling of wanting to escape to these amazing peaceful places.

I continued enjoying art during the remainder of my school days. In 1978 I went on to study technical art at college in Cornwall. The plan was to sit in a stuffy office drawing nuts and bolts! My big inspirational break came in the form of a TV programme. I saw a film about the work of renowned wildlife artist David Shepherd. This was so inspiring for me that, from that moment, I was hooked - I would become a great artist!

 A brief spell working for advertising agencies followed college. From there I spent a few years working for galleries in the Bournemouth area and gradually let illustrating take a back seat while I concentrated more on painting. In 1990 I turned to painting wildlife full-time and my passion for this was endorsed by my first ever one-man exhibition. Half the paintings were sold on the opening night with most of the remainder selling during the show. Shortly after the show, I embarked on my first trip to Africa. I have been going back there ever since." Tony Forrest

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