DAVID DANCEY WOOD - THE COLLECTION

David Dancey-Wood – 30-Year Artistic Overview

Background and Early Career (1990s)

 

David Dancey-Wood is a British wildlife artist born in Bristol and trained at the Bournemouth and Poole Faculty of Art and Design. He began his professional career as a commercial illustrator, working with major organisations such as Time/Life, Disney, Microsoft Encarta, and film studios, producing artwork for books, magazines and visual media.

 

During this period he also began shaping his distinctive artistic direction—hyper-realistic pencil drawings of wildlife, grounded in anatomical accuracy and scientific observation.

 

Rise as a Leading UK Wildlife Artist (Late 1990s – 2000s)

 

By the late 1990s and early 2000s, Dancey-Wood had established himself as one of the UK’s leading pencil artists specialising in wildlife.

 

Key developments in this period:

 

- 1999: Launch of Hawksbill Fine Art to publish and distribute his limited-edition prints.
- His work began to be exhibited widely in galleries across the UK.
- His original drawings became highly sought-after, with waiting lists forming for commissions.

 

His art focuses primarily on endangered species, reflecting a strong conservation ethos.

 

International Expeditions and Conservation Work (2000s – 2010s)

 

A major part of Dancey-Wood’s career has involved global research expeditions to study animals in their natural habitats:

 

- 2003: Costa Rica – research on jaguars
- 2005: Guyana expedition
- 2007: Belize & Guatemala wildlife study
- 2011: Nepal expedition with the Scientific Exploration Society, producing a herpetological report now held in the Royal Geographical Society archives

 

Alongside this, he has worked with and supported major conservation organisations, including:

​

- The Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund
- The Snow Leopard Trust
- The Jersey Wildlife Preservation Trust
- Monkey World Ape Rescue Centre (as artistic consultant)

 

In 2008, he was invited as a guest of honour alongside Sir David Attenborough at a major conservation event in London.

 

Mature Artistic Period (2010s – Present)

 

Over the last 15 years, Dancey-Wood has continued to refine his work, producing:

 

- Highly detailed graphite wildlife portraits
- Limited edition giclée and lithographic prints
- Bespoke private commissions

 

His work is known for:

 

- Extreme anatomical precision
- Detailed rendering of fur, skin, and expression
- Emotional depth in animal portraiture

 

His pieces have appeared in Christie’s London auctions and continue to be collected internationally.

 

Notable works and series include:

 

- “Manyana” (sleeping jaguar)
- “Little Tusker” (elephant)
- “Into the Sea” (sea turtles)
- “Novus Equus” (zebra foal)

 

Style and Artistic Contribution

 

Dancey-Wood’s artistic philosophy blends science and art, aiming to create an accurate visual record of endangered species for future generations.

 

His work is widely recognised for:

 

- Photorealistic pencil technique
- Deep observational research
- Advocacy for wildlife conservation

 

He has been described as one of the finest primate artists in the world, particularly for his work depicting chimpanzees and orangutans.

 

Legacy and Ongoing Work

 

Today, David Dancey-Wood continues to:

 

- Produce new original works and limited editions
- Accept private commissions
- Support wildlife conservation through art
- Exhibit and sell internationally

 

His work remains in high demand among collectors, conservationists, and galleries worldwide.