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Artist Statement:
For a number of years I was
the UK Government licenced
protected species
rehabilitator to the wild of
injured birds of prey and in
this time I was able to
observe and handle wild birds
and animals. They were my
inspiration and provided the
subject matter for my
paintings.
Having been a surveyor with
the UK Ordnance Survey which
makes the British maps, I was
trained to represent with
accuracy and detail and this I
do in my paintings from
studying the birds at close
quarters, so close that I
could not only see the white
of their eyeballs but
unfortunately, also smell
their breath!
My work has been challenging,
but always enjoyable and that
is my reason for painting...
Further Information
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Artist Exhibitions:
Exhibitions –
Devorgilla Gallery Dumfries
Tolbooth Centre, Kirkcudbright
Gracefield Arts Centre,
Dumfries
The Maxwelltown Gallery,
Dumfries
Three Households Gallery,
Chalfont St Giles
David Messum, Windsor
The Malcolm Innes Gallery,
Edinburgh
HC Dickins, London and Bloxham
Scottish National Gallery of
Costume
...
Further Information
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Artist Galleries:
Coming Soon!
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Artist Reviews:
Coming Soon!
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Collections:
Coming Soon!
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Commissions:
Coming Soon!
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Dennis Mccallum Biography:
| Biographical information for Dennis Mccallum can be found below. The artist may choose what information to display. Sometimes the artist chooses not to display personal information to the general public. |
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Age
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56
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| Gender |
Male
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| Status |
Married
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| Children |
99
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| Religion |
not provided |
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| Education |
not provided |
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| Hobbies / Interests |
Wildlife and Art |
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| Favorite Artistic Medium |
Watercolor
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| Favorite Arthistory Movement |
not provided
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| Favorite Visual Artist |
not provided
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| Favorite Work of Art |
not provided
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| Biggest Artistic Inspiration |
not provided |
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| Why Did You Become An Artist |
not provided |
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| Your Personal Biography |
Dennis McCallum was born in Wigtown, Scotland, in 1951 and moved to the Dumfries area with his parents at an early age. His natural talent for drawing emerged and developed at school and it was here whilst studying for his “A” level that the fact that he was colour blind was also discovered prompting Dennis to disregard any thoughts of art school or pursuing a career in the arts world. In fact it was not until the mid 1970’s that he gained the confidence to include colour in his work and took seriously the idea of painting professionally. Since this time he has refined and perfected his distinctive self taught style.
Following his lifelong love of the countryside on leaving school he trained as a land surveyor with the Ordnance Survey and worked on the maps of rural south west Scotland for many years. He has also been one of the few registered keepers for the Department of the Environment caring for injured birds of prey and releasing them back into the wild once fit and well again. Spending his working days in the countryside in such close proximity to birds and animals has given him a familiarity and assurance with his subject which is readily seen in his completed work.
Though he studied art to A level at school, Dennis cites his association with various art societies as more influential on his early development. Through them, he received guidance from other artists and the first opportunity to sell his work.
From the outset, Dennis has single-mindedly pursued his interest in drawing and painting wildlife. His work was well received with shows at local galleries in the Galloway area being quickly followed by invitations to exhibit with galleries such as David Messum in Windsor, The Malcolm Innes in Edinburgh and HC Dickins in London.
Throughout his career as a self taught artist, he has experimented with many mediums such as oil and pastels but always returned to his first love watercolour which he finds the best for capturing the intricate detail which uniquely epitomises his work. Similarly although the subject matter that interests him has broadened from the local birds of his early days through to general European wildlife - he has never wavered from this subject. |
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