A capsule exhibition by contemporary artist Amy Balch has opened today (26th February) at the Kennel Club Art Gallery.
The collection, which will be on display in the foyer of the gallery, will run until 29th April 2020 and will feature a range of Amy’s animal artworks.
Born in 1991, Amy was raised in Devon surrounded by dogs, farm animals and endless art and crafting tools. After studying art & design and textiles right through to college, she completed a degree in Fashion Design before traveling the world. It was in 2015, when based in Zurich, that Amy seriously began illustrating wild animals.
As Amy’s skills developed, commissions began to arrive for portraits of dogs. Amy has been heavily involved in dog showing from her early years and enjoyed many successes so this development in her artistic career was seen as a natural progression.
Amy is now best known for her animal artworks in which she creates life and movement using a limited and subtle colour palette. An emotional and instinctive mark maker, Amy works in black ink and acrylic paints layered together with delicate drawn pen lines to immortalise her animal muses on paper.
Amy is a former Young Kennel Club (YKC) member, having joined at the age of 13, and achieved success in junior handling, winning YKC National Show Handler of the Year 2008.
Speaking about her exhibition, Amy said: “For my two favourite paths, art and animals, to combine and make a career is wicked. My dog portrait exhibition pieces are worked in layers of pen, ink and acrylic.
“I am totally grateful to be recognised by the Kennel Club curators to exhibit in their headquarters!”
Visitors to the Kennel Club Art Gallery also have a month left to visit the Hidden Treasures of the Kennel Club, with one final tour running on 25th March. Starting at 11am, until approximately 1pm, the tour costs £5 per person and must be booked in advance.
The Kennel Club Art Gallery, based in Mayfair, is open to all and free to visit by appointment. Visiting hours are Monday to Friday 9.30am-4.30pm. To book an appointment or for more information please contact the Kennel Club Art Gallery on 020 7518 1064 or email our Art Gallery.