The Premier of China, Wen Jiabao has publicly stated that he is committed to saving the wild tiger. However, his government is allowing trade in tiger skins from tiger farms and skins taken before poaching was outlawed. This trade is acting as a smokescreen for skins taken by killing wild tigers. If China does not stop this trade, the wild tiger is doomed.

We are getting ever closer to 40,000 signatures for PLEASE sign the petition.

The Prize

I am going to select a winner from the gallery and paint a 10×8 inch portrait of the winning cat! :-)

So if you fancy a portrait of your beautiful black puss upload your photo to http://www.facebook.com/catsprotection and tell people how wonderful our black cats are and maybe you could win a painting of your cat.

Why

Black Cat Awareness Day from Cats Protection aims to help around 1,300 unwanted black cats who are being overlooked by potential owners. Black cats make up one fifth of the total number of cats being looked after by Cats Protection, and each black cat is waiting a week longer to find a home compared to the average cat.

To adopt a black cat, please log on to www.cats.org.uk for details of your local Cats Protection branch or centre.

To see some of my paintings of black cats including my rescue boy Harry take a look at the Fascinating Felines Gallery.

It seems that black cats get over looked when people are choosing cats! How sad is that? Cats Protection say that around 20 per cent of cats in their care are black cats and, for whatever reason, often take longer to find new homes while their would-be adopters plump for torties, tabbies and gingers.

Cats Protection  will be running a social media campaign on that day, but need our help to make it a success. Follow them on Facebook and Twitter – to keep in touch with what they’re doing.

I certainly will, our most recent cat is a black cat and a rescue. The fabulous Harry. Huge, soppy and a great cuddle. I can highly recommend black cats! :-)

And here are my paintings…

Photos of the hang and of the private view can seen on the SOFA blog. There’s a slideshow with plenty of photos so you can get a good look around the show. Almost as good as being there.

The show was opened by Catherine Tate who is a long time supporter of Battersea. Here she is on our stand with some of the work behind her, some of mine and some of Sarah Cleggs.

And here she is with Lola.

We had a very successful week and raised a lot of money for Battersea. So thanks to everyone who came and helped raise funds for Battersea.

The painting of Lola, a 20×16 inch oil on canvas, will be on sale on the Battersea stand with 100% of the price going to Battersea Dogs Home.

And finally, I will be there on the private view evening at the Battersea stand to chat about animals and art. So please do come along and support Battersea Dogs and Cats Home at the Affordable Art Fair on March the 9th. It would be lovely to see you there.

Charity Private View
09 March 2011
5.30pm – 9.30pm
Battersea Evolution,
Battersea Park,
London SW11 4NJ
(Google map)

Book your ticket now.

The ticket proceeds from the charity private view go to Battersea Dogs and Cats Home, the chosen charity for this event. Tickets cost £25 and if you book them in advance all money raised will be used to support the lost, abandoned and forgotten animals that come in to the Home this year.

Battersea is one of the most famous and longest-serving charities in the UK, re-homing and caring for over three million lost and abandoned animals since the Home’s establishment in 1860.

Buy a ticket, enjoy an evening of art and help Battersea to help dogs and cats in need!

This is one of the largest prints I’ve done. Its a 20×16 inch print of In The Pink in a 24×30 inch frame. This is the second piece I’ve donated to Battersea for their fund raising.

It was quite an adventure taking them over there in the high winds we had. For a couple of sticky moments I thought I might get blown across London, arriving by air instead of road! :-)