Nick Mackman, a sculptor based in Okehampton, Devon was named the David Shepherd Wildlife Foundations’ ( DSWF ) 2015 Wildlife Artist of the Year at a prize-giving event at the Mall Galleries in London last night(June 29). Nick accepted the £10,000 top prize from wildlife artist and conservationist, David Shepherd CBE and DSWF CEO, Sally Case.

Commenting on the winning piece 'Sleepy Heads' – a collection of ceramic warthogs, judge - artist and gallery owner - Hazel Soan said: “The piece by Nick Mackman demonstrates her consistency of form and wonderful characterisation and individuality she moulds as if from the African earth to create such wonderful, living sculpture.”

Nick Mackman is an award-winning sculptor of ceramic and bronze animal sculptures. She has been widely exhibited and is a regular contributor to the Wildlife Artist of the Year Exhibition. She has accepted commissions from British Airways and the BBC Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition. Her commissions have ranged from a small Bornean frog to a life size bronze cheetah. Nick has spent many hours studying her subjects and regularly travels to observe animals in the wild. This enables her to capture the personality of her subjects, allowing the viewer a rare appreciation of the beast, its beauty and its humour.

“It was a wonderful surprise and honour to be awarded with this prize,” said Nick.

At the same private view of the exhibition (which runs at Mall Galleries until July 4, 2015), Lisa Hooper's collograph 'Curlews' (see below) was presented with The Artist Award by Sally Bulgin. Lisa wins a feature in a future issue of the magazine as well as a subscription.