A RUISLIP amateur artist has been shortlisted for a Wildlife Artist of the Year title, to be awarded at the end of this month.

Martin Gibbons, who lives on the edge of the Colne Valley Park, works on building sites for most of the week.

But in his spare time he takes a telescope and binoculars to less urban environments to sketch wildlife.

“For me to be close to the birds in their environment helps me to get the real essence of the subject,” said Mr Gibbons, 51.

“I don't want every detail but a response to what I am seeing in the field.”

His drawing of sandpipers is among 136 pieces - some by professionals - to be shortlisted for a £10,000 top prize from the David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation, to be awarded at the exhibition at the Mall Galleries in central London on June 27.

Mr Gibbons, a member of Eastcote and Ruislip art societies, said he was surprised to be shortlisted.

He has just returned from sketching birds in Iceland and said he would put the prize money towards more field trips.

It will be exhibited at the Mall Galleries along with work by the 2015 Wildlife Artist of the Year sculptor Nick Mackman, photographer Andy Skillen, and children's author and illustrator Catherine Rayner, who is celebrating the 10th anniversary of her much loved character Augustus the Amur tiger.

Competition manager Nina Neve said: "The sheer diversity of media and form this year has created an extraordinary celebration of the natural world and a huge challenge for the judges.

"Deciding between a fox, skilfully crafted from tin, and a classic oil of a brooding tiger will make selecting the overall winner extremely hard."

Everything on show is for sale, with profits supporting the David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation's conservation projects across Africa and Asia.

The event has raised more than £320,000 since 2007 to help protect endangered wildlife.

David Shepherd CBE said: "I set up my foundation with the sole purpose of giving something back to the animals that helped me achieve success as an artist.

“At a time when the world's wildlife is under such devastating pressure from expanding human populations and the illegal trade it seems fitting that we take a step back and reflect on the sheer beauty and diversity of our natural world and what could be lost if we do not truly appreciate the value of the world around us."

The public exhibition will open at the Mall Galleries from Tuesday June 28 to Saturday July 2, 10am to 5pm (4pm Saturday). Entry is by donation.

Pre-sales and an online catalogue will be available from mid-June at www.davidshepherd.org