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In
February 2004, Pip spent ten days in Kenya filming with Meridian Television
for a new seven-part series 'A Brush With The Wild'. Filmed on location, Pip
visited Samburu National Park, Lake Nakuru, the world
famous Treetops in Aberdare National Park and the Masai Mara.
The series continues at Marwell Zoological Park in Hampshire where Pip is the 'Artist in Residence'. With presenter Anneka Rice taking the viewers around Marwell to meet the keepers and animals, Pip takes on the task of teaching famous personalities how to paint. With only one day each to complete an entire picture, the first series commences with comedienne Helen Lederer, 'Birds of a Feather' actress Lesley Joseph and 'The Liver Birds' actress Nerys Hughes. The stars all take on a wildlife subject each and turn it into a work of art with guidance from Pip.
The
first series was shown in April and the episodes achieved the top regional viewing
figures in the UK.
The second series was filmed in July, once again with Marwell Zoological Park in Hampshire as the backdrop. This time comedienne Jenny Éclair, broadcaster and author Christine Hamilton and another 'Birds of a Feather' star, Linda Robson were Pip's 'victims', with Anneka Rice once again providing her superb presentational skills for the show . During the filming of the second series Linda Robson telephoned her great friend Lesley Joseph to claim that her own painting was much better than Lesley's!
The celebrity's paintings were then all varnished, framed and prepared for hanging in the Marwell International Wildlife Art Society's annual exhibition in August 2004, the largest exhibition of wildlife art in Europe.
The remaining four episodes were broadcast during Xmas week and I am happy to report that the viewing figures have been exceptionally good. Proceeds from the sale of the star's paintings will be donated to wildlife conservation at Marwell. (Four have sold already!)
NB. Pip would like to express his very grateful thanks to all the celebrities who took part in the series, they were truly wonderful to work with. A huge thanks also to Meridian Television and the production crew who were marvellous and the most genuine people to be around. Finally a big thanks to Marwell Zoological Park once again for their continued support throughout.
