AN Oxford artist who wants to bring awareness to endangered species, managed to be amongst the finalists of an international wildlife art competition.
Leila Javadi-Babreh, 34, specialises in oil on canvas and her artwork ‘Persian Leopard Cubs’ was shortlisted in the Wildlife Artist of the Year Award.
The competition is run by UK-based conservation charity, David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation, and received 1,200 entries from artists across 53 countries.
Although Ms Javadi-Babreh did not win, her art was one of 159 shortlisted artworks for the final exhibition.
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She painted using oil on canvas with 24 carat gold leaf creating an intricate piece to raise awareness of the endangered Persian Leopard, to speak out against Islamophobia and to celebrate cultural diversity.
The artist, who has taken part in Oxfordshire Artweeks this year and last year, has spent many years painting as she has travelled.
She said: "I love to paint wildlife as I spent my 20’s painting my way to the Arctic and living in Alaska through the winters before painting caribou, lynx and other wildlife.
"I am really passionate about painting and have been impressed to see how the art world has completely re-organised online galleries so people can still enjoy moments of colour, creativity and inspiration during these times."
Ms Javadi-Babreh is still in with the chance of winning the Wildlife Artist of the Year – People’s Choice Award where members of the public can vote for their favourite artwork.
The winning artist will receive a £500 Great Art voucher and all voters will be entered into a free prize draw.
Speaking on her work, she said: "What I really like about this painting is that it's so fierce with the competing colours that I had to use a lot of different patterns and a lot of different techniques to make it balance for our eye so with that it challenged me to use different textures and different movement approaches."
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Ms Javadi-Babreh was also shortlisted last year for her work, called ‘Impermanence’, which showed reindeer – known as caribou in North America – in motion in a wintery setting.
Her artwork that she entered into the competition is available to view and purchase online until June 28 on the David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation website.
Fifty per cent of all artwork sales will support the charity's work in protecting endangered species across Africa and Asia, including pangolins one of the most trafficked mammals in the world
Ms Javadi-Babreh's other artwork is available to view and purchase on her website www.whitewintergallery.com.
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