A painting showing three lionesses peeking out from behind long grass
  • In Person
  • Born Free: An exhibition of work by Pollyanna Pickering

    • Date: -
    • Time: 10:00 - 18:00
    • Location: The Gallery, Brookvale House, Oaker, Matlock, Derbyshire, DE4 2JJ
    • What3words: Loved.Yummy.Farmland.
    • Admission fee: Free

    A collection of previously unseen artwork by wildlife artist Pollyanna Pickering, celebrating Born Free’s 40th anniversary


    You are invited to attend a special exhibition of artworks by acclaimed artist and longstanding Born Free patron, Pollyanna Pickering, at her private gallery.

    A painting of a majestic male lion looking back over his shoulder

    Two new limited edition prints will be launched at the exhibition, signed by Dame Virginia McKenna OBE, and a souvenir brochure celebrating the work of Born Free, and Pollyanna’s association with the charity will also be available at the venue.

    Also on display will be Pollyanna’s extensive ranges of books, greetings cards, fine art and limited edition prints, and a wide variety of gift ware featuring her work, including brand new card crafting kits as launched live on television! A sneak preview of next year’s charity Christmas cards will also be available, as will the first glimpse of the 2025 calendars featuring Pollyanna’s artwork. Pollyanna’s daughter Anna-Louise – also a patron of Born Free – will be in the gallery throughout the exhibition and will be happy to chat to visitors about Pollyanna’s artwork, her books, and the inspiration found on their expeditions. Visitors to the gallery will also have the opportunity to purchase prize draw tickets to win a unique hand-retouched giclee print.

    Tea and Coffee will be available throughout.

    A minimum of Ten Percent of all sales made throughout the exhibition will be donated to Born Free’s conservation projects through the Pollyanna Pickering Foundation.

    Admission to the exhibition is free.


    Pollyanna Pickering and Born Free

    Pollyanna Pickering was a patron of Born Free for many years, and her artwork raised funds for numerous Born Free conservation and wildlife rescue projects. In 1990, she travelled to the Bannerghatta reserve in southern India to paint five tigers rescued from appalling conditions in a roadside circus, and flown to this sanctuary by the charity. The story of her remarkable journey to find the tigers is told in the book ‘The Eye of the Tiger’, for which Virginia McKenna wrote the foreword.

    Pollyanna returned to her original sketches to complete new paintings which will be included in this anniversary event. Virginia also contributed the foreword to Pollyanna’s first book “Giant Pandas and Sleeping Dragons” – both will be available in the gallery throughout the exhibition.

    Pollyanna twice visited the Big Cat Rescue Centre at Shamwari, where she sketched rescued lions and leopards. A selection of these paintings will be included in the exhibition, alongside works inspired by Joy Adamson’s original books.

    VISIT POLLYANNA’S WEBSITE