Rachel Bigsby as Guest Artist at Wildlife Artist of the Year 2025

Award-winning wildlife photographer Rachel Bigsby was honoured to exhibit as Guest Artist at Wildlife Artist of the Year 2025, hosted by the David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation (DSWF). The prestigious annual exhibition, held at the iconic Mall Galleries in the heart of London, unites exceptional artists from around the world in a shared mission: to celebrate and protect wildlife through art.

Rachel’s exhibited pieces showcased the seabirds upon which she has built her career, close to her heart. Presenting these often-overlooked seabirds in such a renowned gallery carried profound personal significance.

“To see my work hanging on the walls of the Mall Galleries was a moment I will never forget. These images show our seabirds as the beautiful, powerful creatures they are — every bit as captivating as the iconic African Big Five. Sharing them on this stage felt like giving them the recognition they deserve.”

The exhibition marked an important milestone in Rachel’s journey as a wildlife photographer, a career that she admits is far from easy. “At times, it feels impossibly heavy,” she said. “But moments like this remind me why I do what I do.”

Rachel expressed her gratitude to DSWF for the invitation and to Georgina Lamb, CEO of the Foundation, whose leadership continues her grandfather David Shepherd’s legacy with courage, vision, and unwavering commitment to conservation. The opening night gathered a passionate community of artists and conservationists. She celebrated alongside award-winning artist Zoe Fitchet, met one of her artistic inspirations, Melanie Mascarenhas, and reconnected with friends and colleagues.

“The wildlife art community inspires me every single day,” she said. “Being surrounded by 200 extraordinary artists filled me with joy and hope for the future of our natural world.”

The Wildlife Artist of the Year 2025 exhibition is open to the public at Mall Galleries, with all works available for purchase. At least 50% of proceeds from every piece directly support DSWF’s global conservation projects.

“When art and passion collide, they can change the fate of our wild world,” Bigsby said — a sentiment that lies at the heart of her work and this remarkable exhibition.