I'm so thrilled to have been awarded the Inaugural Chairpersons Award 2024 from the Association of Animal Artists.
The ICA award is a long-running award hosted by the AAA and Inaugural Chair, Anne Corless, and co-sponsored by a number of leading international art companies. The award was designed to reward members who go the extra mile in pursuit of their artistic career, through their work with animals, supporting other artists in their chosen field, and through their determination and willingness to make mistakes and develop their own artistic practice in order to improve.
Naomi Jenkin with the Award
Anne Corless founded the Inaugural Chairperson’s Award in 2014, on standing down as AAA Chair after four years in the role. Anne wanted to continue the legacy of encouraging others to develop their artistic practice & be willing to take risks & learn from mistakes. To learn from observation and pay their experience forwards through charity events, running workshops, having involvement in community or animal-based projects & through artistic achievements & awards.
The criteria for the award covers several different fields, from the artists’ contribution to the genre of animal art, to how the artist has used their art to benefit wildlife. It also looks at how the artist has progressed, what they have done to further their own artistic development, and how they have helped to encourage other artists.
I’m so honoured to receive this award in recognition of my wildlife art and contribution to wildlife conservation. I’d like to send a huge thank you to all the judges and to the Association of Animal Artists for the tremendous work they do in supporting animal artists like myself, and championing artists that support wildlife conservation.
Thank you to all the sponsors of the 2024 Award:
Anne Corless Art Studio
Derwent
St Cuthberts Mill
Rosemary and Co.
The Artist and Leisure Painter Magazine
