As a patron of The Born Free Foundation, Pollyanna was delighted to be asked to create a special piece of original work to celebrate their thirtieth anniversary. The resulting study of two painted tigers on a sketched landrover was exhibited at the prestigious Clarendon Fine Art Gallery, Mayfair, in an exhibition entitled WILDWORKS.

A host of celebrities joined legendary actress and conservationist Virginia McKenna OBE (below right with Pollyanna) for VIP preview evening, which included an auction of the art, raising over £25,000 for the Born Free Foundation; the international wildlife charity which she founded with late husband Bill Travers, and their son Will, thirty years ago. Held at the prestigious Clarendon Fine Art Gallery in London’s Mayfair, the guest list featured many of the big-names who had created artwork for the event, including: comedian Jim Moir (Vic Reeves) and wife, model Nancy Sorrell; TV personality Anneka Rice; and presenter Wendy Turner-Webster. Other guests included designer Elizabeth Emanuel and rapper XL.

Flog It favourite, James Lewis, took charge of the gavel, as bidders jostled to secure the stunning original works, including a large abstract painting by Hollywood actor Billy Zane, and a beautiful image of the legendary George Adamson – whose experiences inspired the classic film Born Free – depicted with YouTube sensation ‘Christian’ the lion, created by celebrated lyricist and talented artist, Bernie Taupin. Pollyanna was delighted that her painting raised £3,600.00 – the second highest of any painting on the evening – and additional limited editions sold of her images raised a further £1000.00 on the evening.

Pollyanna said “When asked to create a painting for the thirtieth anniversary of Born Free, the immediate thought is to paint lions. However my very first contact with Born Free, way back in 1990 took me to India to sketch five tigers rescued from appalling conditions in a UK roadside circus. We drove into their huge new home in the Bhannerghatta reserve not knowing if we would be lucky enough to see them – I was fortunate enough to be able to fill pages of my sketchbook and I went back to these images to create the new painting – Forever Free.”
Following the event, Virginia McKenna said: “Surrounded by old friends, new friends and beautiful and original artworks of wildlife, the evening at the Clarendon Gallery was one to treasure. James Lewis conducted the auction in his inimitable and irresistible way – an amazing evening for wild animals and humans alike.”

Pollyanna’s painting of tigers is now available as a limited edition print, sold to raise funds for The Born Free Foundation.

Following the 30th anniversary celebrity art auction and exhibition, just seven of the artworks were selected to be published as high-quality reproductions of the originals. All reproductions have been created by Valentine Art and are being sold as part of a strictly limited and certified worldwide edition of just 75, with 65% of the profits from the sale of the reproductions being donated by to Born Free.

The Valentine Art process should not be confused with conventional art prints. The prints are hand finished and three dimensional, with the result looking and feeling like the original, complete with precise and accurate brushstrokes. The process is recommended by Christies of London, and is increasingly used for insurance and security reasons.

Visit Born Free Celebrity Art for further information or to place an order – or email emma@bornfree.org.uk sating you would like to order Pollyanna’s picture Forever Free. The prints are £205 Framed, £150 Unframed. (Size (unframed): 21.5 x 17 inches)

“Born Free never forgets the individual. Every animal counts. Our emergency teams rescue vulnerable animals from appalling lives of misery in tiny cages and give them lifetime care at spacious sanctuaries. Born Free saves orphaned big cats, great apes and elephants and provides their food and care.”
Will Travers