Golden oil painting emerges from the woodwork Andrew Pledge was crowned David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation’s Wildlife Artist of the Year 2020 for his remarkably detailed and strikingly beautiful ‘Wood Stork’ created from oils and gold leaf. The Wildlife Artist of the Year 2020 winners were announced in an online Awards Ceremony hosted by mezzo-soprano singer, Laura Wright, and DSWF Chief Executive, Georgina Lamb on Tuesday 26 May 2020. The esteemed award, decided by an expert judging panel, won London-based artist, Andrew Pledge, the top prize of £10,000 for his entry. Pledge has also won a two-week residency with Ongava Game Reserve and Lodge in Namibia. Ongava is an art-oriented game reserve close to where DSWF is working to protect the remaining desert-adapted black rhino. Despite looking like an ibis, the American wood stork (Mycteria americana) is a large white wading bird from the stork family. Pledge, as an artist, tends to focus on the more unusual species, like wood storks, and where others see imperfections or ugliness, he sees beauty and intricacy.“Often the best artworks appear deceptively simple… Arguably the wood stork is not the most attractive bird on earth. But this painting exudes an uncanny and breath-taking beauty. It’s very difficult to explain but very clear to see – a worthy winner,” says Hazel Soan, a Wildlife Artist of the Year judge. ‘Wood Stork’ entered into the Wings Category beat all 159 other outstanding shortlisted artworks exhibited.