Brush with Royalty for Wildlife Artist

A Belper artist's work has been given a royal audience in a bid to raise awareness of an endangered species.

Wildlife painter Linda Wain was invited to exhibit one of her largest works at a fund-raising dinner attended by Princess Michael of Kent.

Her study of two tigers entitled Majestic Slumber, provided the centre piece at the event organised by the 21st Tiger Conservation project at London Zoo.

Kevin said: "The painting is a starting point to get people thinking about tigers and what they can do to help.  We certainly feel that having the chance to show it at an event with a royal guest has helped raise awareness about the cause."

Although several offers have been made for it, it was felt by all concerned that a greater amount of publicity for the plight of the remaining tigers could be gained by showing it at other venues."

The global population of wild tigers has fallen from 100,000 at the turn of the century to an estimated 5,000 today, with numbers declining daily.

Linda has recently completed commissions for the RSPCA and World Wildlife Fund said: "The painting generated a lot of interest and that is what we want it to do to get people thinking.  I was proud to have my work on display in front of royalty.  There are not many artists who have that privilege and it was certainly the highlight of my career so far."

Linda, a former Royal Crown Derby painter, put an estimated 450 hours' work into the fine detail study featuring Sumatran tigers Toba and Hari.  Linda will take no proceeds from the sale of the painting, instead, the money will be donated to tiger conservation.

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