ZSL Artists in Focus
David Ryan Robinson: 'London Zoo Illustrated'
Illustrator David Ryan Robinson
David Ryan Robinson has been working with us on an exciting project producing a birds-eye illustration of ZSL London Zoo. This brilliantly original piece of art captures London Zoo in a moment of its history, and is a significant work of importance for that alone.
About the artist:
David Ryan Robinson is a London based illustrator and graphic designer. He attended the University of Salford, where he got a First Class BA (Hons) Degree in Illustration and fell in love with the Uniball eye pen. He is represented by NB illustration.
Past clients include The Guardian, The Times, Cartoon Network, [adult swim], Risk Magazine, The Financial Times, EDF Energy, Becks Beer, BBC, TBA Magazine, Sports Relief, Allie Moss, The Cornerhouse, Afflecks Palace, Islington Mill.
David Ryan Robinson is currently working as a designer for Cartoon Network at Turner Enterprises.
London Zoo Illustrated is a limited first edition (250 copies only) silkscreen print using oil-based inks onto 280gsm recycled paper. The prints measure 000x000mm and looks perfect mounted to fit a 70x70cm frame.
To purchase David Ryan's London Zoo Illustrated please visit:
http://www.etsy.com/shop/DavidRyanRobinson
London Zoo Illustrated
David Ryan Robinson on his drawing:
'As well as just starting a new illustration I wanted to help raise money for a worthy cause. So I sent ZSL London Zoo an email asking if they would be interested in such a project and luckily they were very enthusiastic about it. I was allowed to do research at the zoo...and so the project was born! Fast-forward 7 months of drawing, visiting the zoo and studying photographs and the illustration is complete. as I presented the art to the Zoo I was shown around the new Tiger Territory enclosure. It is a delight to walk around the zoo with everything mapped out pretty accurately to my drawing and to see that money raised from sales will go to such a worthy cause'.
Adam Binder's 'Boris the Polar Bear'
A giant polar bear sculpture by artist Adam Binder stands proud at ZSL London Zoo.
‘Boris’ is a 12-foot, life-size polar bear sculpture cast entirely of bronze and weighing 700 kgs. The sculpture is exhibiting at ZSL London Zoo to symbolise the plight of Polar Bears and to raise awareness for a species under threat.
Artist, Adam Binder says, “Everyone assumes that climate change is killing off the planet’s polar bear population, but trade has no doubt contributed to their demise. Hunters selling polar bear skins and parts are making a dangerous and unsustainable dent in wild populations that could be the last straw for the species”.
Adam Binder & Boris with London Mayor Boris Johnson and environmental campaigner Stanley Johnson Second to climate change and habitat loss, there is near universal agreement that the annual polar bear hunt in Canada and the illegal sale of poached Russian bears is one of the biggest threats to the species. In the last five years, there was a 375 percent increase in the number of polar bear skins offered at auctions in Canada, with foreign buyers paying record prices.
According to the U.S. Geological Survey we will have lost two-thirds of the world’s last remaining polar bears (currently around 20,000-25,000) by 2050.
Support a ban on the slaughter of this species for their highly prized body parts, which are sold to international buyers. Polar bear skins, teeth, claws, and skulls can fetch up to tens of thousands of dollars; all while the species clings to existence in a warming climate.
Show your support: www.ice-warrior.com/polar-bear-campaign
If you are an artist interested in working on a project with ZSL, please email: arts@zsl.org
