Award-winning wildlife artist Alex McGarry is inviting art lovers and wildlife enthusiasts to a special evening at the Hawk Conservancy Trust near Andover this December, celebrating her third anniversary as Artist in Residence with an exhibition of her latest paintings.
The event, taking place on Thursday 3 December 2026, will offer visitors an opportunity to discover McGarry’s latest collection of realistic wildlife paintings, enjoy fizz and canapés, and enter a competition for the chance to win an original piece of artwork.
Running from 6.30pm until 8pm, with an official opening at 7pm, the exhibition will also celebrate the artist’s remarkable achievements over the past year, including a sell-out exhibition aboard P&O Cruises’ Britannia.
McGarry, who has been Artist in Residence at the Hawk Conservancy Trust since 2023, has developed a close relationship with the conservation charity. Her paintings not only celebrate the beauty of the natural world but also contribute directly to its protection, with 50 per cent of the money raised through sales of her paintings at the Trust donated to support its charitable work.
From childhood passion to international recognition
Known for her strikingly realistic oil paintings of British wildlife and birds, McGarry has spent much of her life developing an artistic style that combines extraordinary attention to detail with a deep appreciation of the natural world.
Having first picked up a paintbrush as a young girl, she began exhibiting her work at just 16 and has now enjoyed a professional career spanning fourteen years.
Her paintings frequently feature some of Britain’s most recognisable wildlife, including barn owls, robins, foxes and hares. Through careful observation and painstaking studio work, she captures not simply the appearance of her subjects but their character, movement and individuality.
Her talent received national recognition in 2019 when she was named Up and Coming Artist of the Year by the Fine Art Trade Guild.
Represented by Clarendon Galleries, McGarry’s work has since reached collectors across the country and beyond, with exhibitions in galleries throughout the UK and aboard luxury cruise ships operated by P&O Cruises and Cunard.
A record-breaking year for the wildlife artist
The December exhibition follows one of the most successful moments of McGarry’s career.
In July 2026, she staged a solo exhibition aboard P&O Cruises’ Britannia, in partnership with Clarendon Galleries, which saw all 46 original oil paintings sold.
The collection generated an impressive £90,000 in sales, marking her most commercially successful exhibition to date.
The achievement reflects the growing appetite for contemporary wildlife art and the appeal of McGarry’s distinctive approach to painting.
Her work brings familiar British animals and birds into sharp focus, encouraging viewers to appreciate the beauty of creatures that can often be overlooked in everyday life.
For McGarry, however, her success is also closely connected to a commitment to wildlife conservation.
Her continuing partnership with the Hawk Conservancy Trust allows her to combine her artistic career with support for an organisation dedicated to protecting birds of prey and their habitats.
Art with a purpose at the Hawk Conservancy Trust
The Hawk Conservancy Trust, based at Sarson Lane near Andover, is internationally recognised for its work in bird of prey conservation, education and research.
McGarry’s residency has provided an opportunity to bring together two complementary worlds: wildlife conservation and fine art.
Her paintings celebrate the beauty and character of birds of prey, while the proceeds from eligible artwork sales help support the Trust’s conservation work.
The Third Anniversary Art Exhibition will provide a chance for visitors to see the latest results of this creative partnership and learn more about the artist whose work has attracted collectors across the UK and internationally.
With the opportunity to meet fellow art enthusiasts, enjoy refreshments and potentially win an original painting, the evening promises to be a celebration of both artistic achievement and the natural world.
A chance to meet the artist and win a unique sketch
The exhibition will showcase a selection of McGarry’s work, ranging from paintings of the Trust’s resident birds to familiar wild songbirds, alongside newly completed pieces.
Visitors will also have an opportunity to speak to the artist about her creative process and the inspiration behind her paintings.
Throughout her residency, McGarry has taken an active role in events at the Trust, including live painting demonstrations during its summer Art Weekend and sketching a vulture for International Vulture Awareness Day.
Her contribution extends beyond original paintings. The Trust has confirmed that, alongside 50 per cent of painting sales, 100 per cent of profits from print sales are donated to its conservation, research and education programmes.
Guests attending the anniversary evening will also be able to enter a raffle for the chance to win an exclusive, one-of-a-kind sketch by McGarry.
How to attend the Third Anniversary Art Exhibition
The exhibition preview is free to attend, although places are limited and advance registration is required.
Thursday 3 December 2026
6.30pm–8pm, official opening at 7pm
Hawk Conservancy Trust, Sarson Lane, Weyhill, Andover, Hampshire, SP11 8DY
Free admission, RSVP required
Those wishing to attend are asked to RSVP by Friday 20 November 2026, contacting Jemma Benton at jemma@hawkconservancy.org or calling 01264 773850.
Alternatively, enquiries can be directed to the artist at info@alexmcgarry.co.uk.
Further information is available on the Hawk Conservancy Trust’s official event page.
For those with an appreciation of wildlife, art or the work of the Hawk Conservancy Trust, the evening offers a chance to celebrate the achievements of an Andover artist whose paintings are finding admirers far beyond Hampshire, while helping to protect the wildlife that inspires them.