| CHLOE SCOTT-MONCRIEFF meets a man that gave up his day job to follow his heart and is now making thousands from his widely-admired talent. |
IT WAS a lecture given by leading artist David Shepherd that inspired artist Pip McGarry to pick up his paintbrush.
Some 20 years on, he's managed to turn a hobby into a money-making profession.
For most people with a passion for painting, to be a successful professional artist is a pipe dream. This was the case for self-taught painter Pip -- until Marwell Zoo recognised his talent and gave him the springboard to launch his career.
Working in Basingstoke for the Department of Employment, Environment and the Regions, Pip's mind would often be with the wild animals of the African Plain -- his favourite theme for his colourful paintings created in the conservatory at the back of his house in Andover.
Eventually, his love of painting finally got the better of him and, last year, he left to concentrate on an artistic career.
It's a decision that's certainly paid off -- for as a professional oil painter, 43-year-old Pip's wildlife paintings have been recognised by the art world.
Sotheby's and Christie's, the prestigious London auctioneers, are now competing for his paintings which are selling for thousands to top dealers.
A Publishing company has also taken a shine to -- his paintings, selling prints of his stampeding zebras and antelopes in over 100 countries.
Pip said: "This year has been a dream come true -- my work has taken off beyond all expectations.
"I remember 20 years ago being inspired by the king of wildlife artists, David Shepherd, when he did a lecture and now I am selling paintings alongside him at the auctions."
Talking about his path to success, he said: "I've worked in a variety of jobs. I joined the army, the civil service, worked as a labourer, and a fraud investigator."
"Painting for Marwell Zoo was a turning point for me. A friend of my wife who worked there came round for dinner one evening and, seeing my paintings on the wall, he thought they might look good in the Marwell shop.
"This went ahead and I was eventually asked to become artist in residence.
"Last August, there was a big exhibition there and a lot of my paintings were sold and it went from there."
He added: "It was really scary after I had left my job for good -- I was worried about things like the mortgage, looking after my kids and wife.
"But now I get up in the morning and know at I can sit down and paint."
Pip has sold five paintings this year, some of which he started in 1998. Most have sold for a few thousand.
Asked whether painting on demand was hard, he said: "It's definitely tougher than I thought it would be.
"A major piece can take as long as a month while a less complex commission will take four or five days. "
This year he has been to Tanzania in Africa for the first time.
He said: "I've just come back from Tanzania in January where I went to the Serengeti and Ngoragora Crater.
It was beautiful to see
the animals I paint behind an African landscape with a different light.
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