About Tony Forrest: A Life Dedicated to Wildlife Art
Tony Forrest is one of the UK’s most respected wildlife artists, known for his evocative original oil paintings that capture the raw beauty and soul of the natural world. For over three decades, Tony has traveled the globe—from the sweeping savannahs of Africa to the dense jungles of India—to document the lives of Earth’s most magnificent and endangered species.
A Career Built on Excellence
Tony’s journey as a professional artist is marked by significant milestones in the world of fine art. His work has been featured in some of the most prestigious galleries and exhibitions globally, including:
The Mall Galleries, London: He has appeared in high-profile exhibitions, showcasing the technical mastery and emotional depth of his wildlife portraits.
Harrods, London: Tony’s work has been represented in the fine art departments of this iconic institution, reaching international collectors and art enthusiasts.
International Collections: His paintings are sold to private collectors across the globe, recognizing his unique ability to blend realism with a profound sense of atmosphere.
The Field Research: Africa and Beyond
Unlike many studio-bound artists, Tony believes that true wildlife art is born in the field. His deep connection to the Maasai Mara in Kenya and Africa has been a lifelong inspiration, where he spends weeks observing the light, the landscape, and the behavior of the "Big Five."
Recently, Tony has expanded his focus to the Bengal Tigers of India, specifically within Ranthambore National Park. This firsthand research—sketching from the back of a safari vehicle and photographing at dawn—allows him to bring a level of authenticity to his oil paintings that cannot be replicated. Every brushstroke is informed by the dust of the trail and the silent tension of a predator in the tall grass.
Art for Conservation
For Tony, painting wildlife is an act of advocacy. He is a staunch supporter of conservation efforts and has collaborated with leading organizations such as Tusk and the Born Free Foundation. Through his art, he aims to raise awareness of the fragile state of our ecosystems and the urgent need to protect the species that inhabit them.
Whether demonstrating his technique on a Cunard liner or working quietly in his UK studio, Tony remains committed to the idea that art can be a powerful catalyst for change.
Tony Forrest has been painting wildlife for 35 years and has seen many fascinating and beautiful places. 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. One of his early exhibitions of wildlife with a much celebrated gallery was an immediate sell out. His work has hung in the Mall Galleries in London and galleries in Florida and Montana in America. Tony has also donated paintings to Tusk, Born Free Foundation and Africat in Namibia raising thousands of pounds for conservation projects.
Tony Forrest has created many oil paintings during his long career and he has met many influential people during those years. He has visited many beautiful places across the globe and is fully aware that our world is rapidly changing. The protection of our planet is the highest priority and Tony Forrest is acutely aware of how fragile our planet is.
“During my working life I have met many great people in Africa. My first ever safari was to Tsavo in Kenya. I remember flying over Africa and looking out of the window of the plane with the kind of excitement a child might feel if they were flying to the North Pole to see Father Christmas! It was all a new experience and I stayed at a lodge near Voi in Tsavo West. Since then, I have been to Africa too many times to recall but all of them have brought something different and added to my wildlife art experiences.”
“Conservation is never out of my mind these days and I have a real fear for the future of our animal friends who have as much right to a peaceful life as we do. I hope Governments one day open their eyes and see what is happening to the natural world as a result of poaching and habitat destruction.”
Achievements
Some of the historic events that have shaped my art career.
ARTIST’S CV/EXHIBITIONS
Solo exhibition at Artist's Gallery, Bournemouth. 1993
Solo exhibition at Halcyon Gallery, Pallasades, Birmingham. Approx 1995
Major commission by the Army Air Corps to paint Lynx Helicopters in action near Soest in Germany. The Army Air Corps flew me in a small private plane to Soest. I spent five days with them. They set up the whole scene with their helicopters for me to photograph and paint. Very exciting! Late 1990s
Major commission by the Army Air Corps to paint Lynx and Gazelle Helicopters at Gornji Vakuf, Bosnia shortly after the Bosnian war in 1995. The Army flew me to Split in Croatia where I joined them for a week at their base at Gornji Vakuf. I was flown to various areas affected by the war including the capital city, Sarajevo. Approx 1997.
Mixed exhibition at Halcyon Gallery, International Convention Centre, Birmingham - sold out in four hours. Approx 2000
Mixed exhibition at Native Visions Gallery, Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. Early 2000s
Exhibited with Native Visions Gallery Florida at Safari Club International, Reno Convention Centre, USA. Early 2000s
Major solo exhibition at Halcyon Gallery, International Convention Centre, Birmingham. Approx 2003.
Joint show at a large gallery in Montana, USA. Approx 2008
100% donation of original lion painting to Born Free Foundation raising £4,000 at celebrity auction. Approx 2012
100% donation of two originals to Tusk Trust raising £10,800 in a single evening at celebrity auction. Approx 2014
David Shepherd Wildlife Artist of the Year. Finalist three years.
Painting demonstration and solo exhibition during cruise in South Africa on board Cunard Queen Mary 2 cruise ship. Most originals sold out. 2017
Solo exhibition. Salthouse Gallery, St. Ives, Cornwall. 2018
Painting demonstration and solo exhibition during cruise in South Africa on board Cunard Queen Elizabeth cruise ship. Most originals sold out. 2019
Exhibited with the Royal Society of Marine Artists at the Mall Galleries, London. 2021
Tony has exhibited at London’s Mall Galleries with the Society of Wildlife Artists, the Society of Marine Artists and the David Shepherd Wildlife Artist of the Year exhibitions.
Solo exhibition, Rock, Cornwall. May 2022
Exhibition of Wildlife Art, Chester. 2022
Solo exhibition, Rock, Cornwall. October 2022