Berkshire farm park piglets squeal the show at prestigious London gallery

KINGSCLERE artist Amanda Bates has won the Society of Graphic Fine Art (SGFA also known as The Drawing Society) President’s Award at the 104th annual Open Exhibition held at London’s Mall Galleries (March 10-15).

Her drawing Squeee! was selected by the society’s president Susan Poole from more than 300 works.

The full set of awards from this year’s SGFA exhibition is on the front page of their website: https://sgfa.org.uk

The winning picture shows a crowd of young pigs squeezing together.

It is based on a photograph taken by Amanda at Bucklebury Farm Park.

“I had been on a early morning photographers deer safari but neither I nor my photographic equipment were capable enough. It didn’t matter; I sketched the deer instead.

“After breakfast, we were invited to take a wander around the farm area, where it was much easier to get a decent photograph! I took the shots that this drawing is based on just after the piglets’ feed trough had been filled.

“It’s called Sqeee! because they are squeezing together and also because it's a sort of excited squeal noise.

“I think that the pig's ear is a truly beautiful thing. I had never paid much attention to pigs’ ears before.”

This award is not the first time that Amanda’s work has been recognised.

Last year Multistorey, her drawing of a sunken lane in east Hampshire, won the Monochrome Award at the SGFA’s 103rd annual Open Exhibition.

The piece was first shown at INSIGHT 2023 (the annual Open Studios West Berkshire and North Hampshire showcase) at The Base, Greenham.

Amanda has also received a number of regional awards, including best newcomer at Southern Natute Art (2024, Fareham) and overall winner at The Red House Museum Open (2023, Christchurch).