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Reptiles and
amphibians occupy an important place in Jill Moger’s lifelong passion for
natural history which has its roots in her early childhood. She has
followed expeditions in books and on film of many of the world’s foremost
naturalists and has visited numerous zoos and private reptile collections
to observe the animals at first hand besides keeping some ‘rescued’
reptiles of her own.
Although other creatures are represented in Jill’s ceramic work, it is for
her reptiles that she is best known.
“In their natural state and also in captivity, the scabs and scars of
reptiles, the missing claws and spines and the shedding patches of skin,
do not detract from their underlying magnificence. I try to create a
strong sense of realism in my sculptures whilst at the same time,
enhancing their most beautiful and decorative characteristics.”
A self taught artist, Jill set up a studio at her home in York in 1981
and this coincided with her first solo exhibition at York University.
Many exhibitions, commissions and Gallery representations later, Jill was
elected a member of the Society of Wildlife Artists in 1999, and
has variously held the posts of Council member, newsletter editor and
honorary secretary, was
elected to the Council that year and is currently Honorary Secretary. She was elected to
membership of the Society of Women Artists in 2001 and won the President’s
and Vice Presidents Award for the best work of art in their annual
exhibition at Westminster Central Hall in the same year. In 2006 she won
the Anthony J Lester Art Critic Award at the SWA exhibition at the Mall
Galleries. In 2009 Jill has been elected a Member of the Royal Society of
Miniature Painters, Sculptors and Gravers .
Each subject species is carefully researched and then individually made
and intricately detailed in stoneware or porcelain clay. The life sized
sculptures are fired in an electric kiln and enhanced by further firings
(up to five) to fix the various glazes, enamels and lustre's.
Jill has recently had some of her sculpture cast into bronze, feeling that
this will enhance her range of work.
Jill Moger’s work has been exhibited and auctioned by Bonham’s in
Singapore, she has worked on commissions from leading British TV, Opera
and Ballet Companies and has several famous names amongst the many
collectors of her work. Besides exhibiting annually with the Society of
Wildlife Artists and with the Society of Women Artists at the Mall
Galleries in London, she has also exhibited at Yorkshire Sculpture Park,
Nature in Art in Gloucestershire (her work is in their permanent
collection), the Wildlife Art Gallery in Lavenham and the Cheng Kim Loke
Gallery at Slimbridge Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust, Gloucester. Her work
is permanently represented at the Llewellyn Alexander Gallery in Waterloo,
London.
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