Callaghans of Shrewsbury are delighted to place a spotlight on our spectacular collection of paintings by the incredibly talented and prolific wildlife artist Tony Forrest.

Originally from the West Midlands, Tony Forrest was born in 1961 and developed a passion for painting around the age of seven. Forrest was profoundly influenced by the work of David Shepherd, and his twenties saw his transition into becoming primarily a wildlife painter.

He has travelled extensively on safari to gain inspiration for his art, capturing photographs of animals in their natural habitat and most often working from those to create his masterpieces. His first expedition was to Kenya’s West Tsavo National Park, but over the course of decades Forrest has travelled globally, seeking immersive expeditions to the heart of the wilderness from Maasai Mara in Kenya to the hidden trails of Ranthambore National Park in India.

As well as being a prolific wildlife artist, Tony Forrest is also a passionate advocate for wildlife conservation and has collaborated with leading organizations such as Tusk Trust, Africat and the Born Free Foundation, to which he has also contributed significant donations. Through his art, Forrest hopes to raise awareness for the plight surrounding many endangered animals and advocate for greater support for them.

He has had many oil paintings published by major UK art publishers and has exhibited in some of the most prestigious galleries in the country, including Harrods in London and at the Safari Club International Convention in Reno.

Tony Forrest’s works are imbued with the intensely wild, raw spirit of the landscapes which his subjects call home. He strives with every brushstroke to perfectly capture the heat, dust and emotion of the safari, and the incredible power and animal grace of the magnificent animals to which he is so devoted is exquisitely portrayed on every canvas. Every hair or detail in an elephant’s leathery skin, every blade of grass or glittering water droplet is painted with perfect precision, and every painting is infused with the clear passion Forrest has for these animals and the places they inhabit.

Today based in Cornwall, Forrest continues to seek new safari experience and painting opportunities, always driven by the belief that his work should place the viewer face-to-face with the realities of the natural world. If you’d like to know more about these works, or if you’re interested in adding one of Tony Forrest’s stunning wildlife paintings to your collection, contact a member of our team online, give us a call, or simply drop into the gallery on St Mary’s Street, Shrewsbury.