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Own this painting for as little as £2! and help save Suzy, Carmen and Peggy

Original Acrylic Painting on Clayboard

Framed size 18" x 12"

Gordon Corrins is a wildlife artist based in Dollar. He has been painting for many years but a complete change of direction a few years back has transformed his work and the subjects he paints. Gordon has always loved wildlife and animals and has painted numerous pet portraits over the years, however it was when he started painting wildlife that he really found his passion.

This painting has been beautifully framed by Richard Anderson of Bronze Framing in Stirling, www.bronzeframing.co.uk. Richard has very kindly donated the framing to the appeal. The tickets are being sold to help raise funds for the Circus Bear Rescue Appeal at the Five Sisters Zoo in West Lothian. Tickets cost £2 each, please visit www.fivesisterszoo.co.uk for the draw date. All proceeds will go to the Circus Bear Rescue Appeal.

About the Painting

When I first thought of donating a painting to the Circus Bear Rescue Appeal my first concerns were how to depict a bear in it’s best light. I had some reference material which I spoke to my wife, Vivienne, about. As soon as she saw the profile image we knew this was the one. The idea was to show openness, freedom not caged, captive or trapped. The simplest ideas are usually the best which is why I chose a clear blue sky, no constraints or barriers. This we felt was the best way to show how the bears will live when they arrive in Scotland.

The painting is entitled Looking Forward, Vivienne came up with this very simple but meaningful title, as this is what the appeal is all about, for the bears, and the people at the zoo. Looking Forward to a better future when they can continue to welcome and care for animals.

Carmen, Suzy and Peggy were bred in captivity and throughout their entire lives they were kept in 10 metre square cages only taken from them to perform and entertain. The bears, after a life of extreme hardship have been abandoned and are currently languishing in a holding pen in Belgium with volunteers taking care of their basic needs.

Five Sisters are committed to caring for the bears at the zoo. We have launched an urgent appeal and need to raise £80,000 for their safe transportation, quarantine fees, veterinary support and a purpose built enclosure, which is currently being developed in woodland within the zoo itself.

Please donate to the Circus Bear Rescue Appeal

For more information & donations please go to this website at www.fivesisterszoo.co.uk

Winter Show

The Winter show has new work in it from Becka Gauld, Adam Binder, and Mary Ann Rogers. It will continue through to mid March.

The Gallery regularly posts out work all over the UK and abroad so if you cant make it in then browse online and call up to check availability. The gallery can take card payments over the phone, cheques or you could sell of what you dont need anymore on ebay and treat yourself using Paypal.

March to May 2012 classes

The new block of classes in Drawing and painting will start the first week of March and continue for 8 weeks. The clay classes are still to be finalised as I may have to take a short period of time off.. We have added an additional children's drawing class which runs on a Monday night from 4.30pm-5.45pm in response to requests from parents of secondary school kids or from further afield. We hope this will give you time to make it to class.

For further details and to check availability please look up the classes page. If you are interested in attending please contact the gallery on 01738 621836 or fill in the contact form on the website. Thank you

Animal Magic - Ferrers Gallery, Staunton Harold, Ashby de la Zouch

Friday 6th January - Sunday 18th March 2012 .A show encompassing a wide selection of wildlife artwork. For more information visit the Ferrers Gallery web page.

Featured craft maker - Fotheringham Gallery - May

This year the Fotheringham Gallery in Bridge of Allan will be showcasing the work of a featured painter and crafts person each month. I have been given their May slot so will be working on a number of new pieces to show at the gallery that month. For more information visit the Fotheringham gallery Homepage.

Potfest Scotland - Scone Palace 1st -3rd June

Potfest returns to the Perth area for its 15th year in Scotland. This years show is Potfest at the Palace, in the wonderful grounds of Scone Palace, the home of the Stone of Destiny, the crowning site of former Scottish kings.

This years show has a slightly different format, being held in marquees on the grounds at the rear of the Palace.

Scottish Game Fair - Scone Palace 29th June - 1st July

Attendance at The 2011 GWCT Scottish Game Fair held in the grounds of Scone Palace, Perthshire, was over 36,000, breaking our previous record attendance in 2009 .

Visitors come to the three-day Fair to enjoy the lively and friendly atmosphere, to hunt for bargains in over 300 trade stands, to learn more about their countryside, to see a huge variety of displays and demonstrations and to test their skills in a wide range of competitions.

Potfest in the Park - Hutton-in-the-Forrest - 27th-29th July

Over 100 exhibitors invited from all over Europe and beyond....all with very distinctive individual styles ....all passionate about working with clay.

The venue, Hutton-in-the-Forest, is a cultural destination in itself with it's walled garden, topiary terraces and woodland walks. The ceramics festival takes place in and around marquees in front of the castle, with the potters competition pieces on the lawn, juxtaposing ancient architecture and modern ceramics.

Current Issue of Craft and Design Magazine in stock

Bids & Birdies - Game and Wildlife Trust Auction - Thursday 10th November

This Scottish Wildcat Sculpture was one of the auction items at this years Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust's auction. Titled "Bids and Birdies" and held on Thursday 10th November. The piece helped raise £250 at the auction. You can see this peice being made and get further information on the "Making it - Scottish Wildcat" page.

Charity event and silent auction for Guide dogs for the blind

This fund raising event for Guide dogs for the Blind at Perth's Salutation Hotel proved a tremendous success. The fashion show for 2 and 4 legged models was a sell out with people arriving on the night looking for tickets. This piece raised £200 in the auction and a total of around £2000 was donated to this excellent cause. Congratulations to Li and all the helpers for all their hard work in making this evening happen.

Orang-utan prize raises £433 for the Orang-utan Foundation.

Congratulations to the winner of the Orang-utan, Yvonne McGillvray of Perth. Many thanks to everybody that bought tickets for the raffle, a total of £433 was raised and will be donated to the Orang-utan foundation.

For more information on the Orang-utan Foundation please visit their website.