THE honours keep piling up for wildlife artist, Pip McGarry.

Pip, Andover-based and working as artist-in-residence at Marwell Zoo, won the professional wildlife artist of the year award at an exhibition based at Paignton Zoo with a portrayal of a fish eagle at rest on an interlacing of bare branches in Botswana.

For some years, Pip carried on a day-time job while polishing his skills as a wildlife artist, selling into larger and larger markets as collectors recognised his talent.

Now, at 46 he is firmly established and his work and prints command high prices in auctions of wildlife art in London. One of his latest paintings, two big cat cubs entitled Born Free, has been used to publicise an exhibition at the Triton galleries in Torquay which runs until 16 December.

He admits the selection of one of his pictures gives him tremendous satisfaction.

His work often reaches the market place framed by David Musselwhite at Andover Framing.