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...Alan Hunt attended Middlesbrough Art College in Yorkshire and went on to study zoology at Leeds College and Bristol University. After graduation, Alan Hunt worked for several years as a zoologist, eventually becoming the director of the Chester Zoo in Chesire, England.
Alan Hunt has worked with birds and animals both in the wild and in captivity, in parks, zoos and wildlife reserves around the world. Alan Hunt has acted as a guide for birdwatchers and naturalists in Europe, the Middle East, Africa and North America.
Alan Hunt first learned about wildlife by sketching songbirds as a boy. The rolling moors and marshes near his home were prime habitat for birds from all over Europe, and Alan Hunt’s artistic skills developed quickly. After several years of sketching and painting as a hobby, Alan Hunt decided to enroll in art college. But after a year of formal training, he became discouraged by the lack of importance his instructors placed on realistic wildlife art.
Alan Hunt began to paint full-time after his artwork began gaining interest. Over the years, Alan Hunt has exhibited his artwork around the world and has gained many honors and awards. Alan Hunt's wildlife art hangs in many public and private collections throughout the world, including Holland's prestigious Jacht Museum. Alan Hunt paints only during the daylight hours; he never uses artificial light. Alan Hunt works in a variety of media, primarily oil and gouache, but also ink, acrylic, egg tempera and watercolor. With his backgrounds in both art and zoology, Alan Hunt has the advantage of being able to study wildlife from two perspectives - that of scientist as well as artist.
Alan Hunt's extensive world travels, observation and experience with wild animals clearly show in his realistic style of painting, which is both accurate and evocative. “My aim is to portray wildlife in all its infinite variety. I hope to instill in those who view my work a compassion and caring for the natural world, and an awareness of its fragility as we encroach ever more upon it.”
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Alan Hunt
