This series of original artworks, drawings and fine art prints originate from a decade Skye Holland spent living and working in South Africa in the 90’s with her young family. Weekends and holidays were spent exploring the bushveld and national game parks where African wildlife roamed in natural habitats. A love of animals from an early age grew to a passion for the diversity, power and magnificence of many of the wild species she saw and experienced there. Her passion grew alongside the awareness that these special habitats and their inhabitants endure increasing threat – from climate change, poaching, the export of illegal wildlife products and illegal hunting practices.

In 2015, back in her studio in London, Holland became aware of the extinction of the West African Black Rhino. This prompted a large painting celebrating The Last West African Black Rhino. Holland continues to focus on species under threat.

Wild Series

  • Pink Equus

    £2,500.00
    Charcoal, graphite and oil pastels on primed archival paper
    88 x 108 cm (box framed in hand-painted wooden frame)

    Living and working in the Wiltshire countryside, I explore my own and humankind's relationship with the natural habitat and all its inhabitants. I have recently revisited my upbringing with horses and my love of their spirit is poured into this study of a horse head which originates from photographs taken of the Elgin Marbles at the British Museum. Those incredible friezes in bas-relief marble depict the inextricable and timeless relationship and dependence between horse and man.

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  • Longhorn

    £1,950.00 SOLD
    Charcoal, Graphite, pastels and gold leaf drawing on archival paper.
    84cm x 113cm
    Framed

    I explore human relationships with the wild. When confronted with a skull of an animal, we are at once drawn to the beauty of the form and repelled by the absence of life. In studying these emotions, this informs us about our own mortality and loss. The use of gold-leaf creates an iconic and ritualistic element to the drawing.

    Original sold - Print available here

  • On a wing and a prayer

    £4,750
    Mixed media collaged painting on archival Japanese Okawara archival paper
    150cm x 112cm
    Optima UV protective glass and hand painted and waxed pale grey wooden frame

    On a Wing and a Prayer reconstructs feathers found in a heap left in a ploughed furrow beside an ancient hedgerow. Holland reconstructs the events with her own narrative, collating and collaging with ink spattered and drawn Japanese papers. She abstracts the natural form and structure to recreate a new and reincarnated life form, rising out of the fragments.

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  • Icarus

    £1,650
    Mixed media diptych painting (ink, gold leaf) on Japanese Okawara archival paper
    74 x 74cm
    Framed in x2 acrylic box panels

    Inspired by the ancient Greek myth of Icarus who flew too close to the sun, despite warnings and got burnt. Explores climate change and the global impact.

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  • The Keening

    £2450
    Mixed media painting (ink, Japanese paper collage, oil pastels) on Hannemhule archival paper
    124.6 x 107.7cm
    Framed in grey stained wood with Optima UV and glare resistant glass.

    The Keening describes recent sightings of the magnificent Buzzard on Holland’s many forays across the landscape. The experience of being alone with the majestic bird of prey circling overhead on a warm thermal, searching for prey and crying with the haunting screech which reverberates between the swell of surrounding hillsides.

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  • Blue Ram Skull

    £1,650
    Mixed media painting (graphite, oil, oil pastels) on archival Hannemhule paper
    100 x 88.5cm
    Framed with grey stained wooden frame and Optima UV and glare resistant glass.

    Study of a found Ram’s skull.

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