Nile Crocodile, 2000

Edition size: 1500 copies + 150 artist proofs

Published price: £95

Maximum known secondary market price reached: £250

Gary says “Nile Crocodile was my most ambitious drawing to date. Not only was it most definitely not cute and cuddly, the image was also a massive 240cm long.  I managed to get as far as just beyond the front legs, which was 87cms worth, when I felt I needed a breather from the intensity and sheer scale of the piece.

“I decided to bring a same-size print of the front third out. The buzz within the art world was so great I decided to make it an edition of 1500 copies + 150 artist proofs. This was just as well as all the prints were over subscribed to galleries a good few weeks before the publication date, so I had to cut back the allocation to them considerably.

Left and Right: DETAILS OF NILE CROCODILE

“We held the preview launch at The Cygnets Gallery in Surrey, UK to great success. The owners, Bob and Yvonne Swann had already staged a number of exhibitions of my prints, in aid of the Born Free Foundation and EIA and had raised over £25,000. This latest show made an amazing £24,000 for Born Free which included £2,500 from the sale of a Limited edition (sold out) catalogue of 100 copies. This was lovingly compiled and designed by keen collectors Brian and Lisa Williams completely free of charge. The show was attended by around 300 people throughout the day.

“There is a time-lapse sequence of me drawing the crocodile in the Drawn to Wildlife VHS video tape. It’s available for only £5 from the Born Free Foundation.

“I would love to complete Nile Crocodile as it’s one of my favourites. All I need is a couple of hundred intense hours to devote to it.”

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