About Chris
Chris Shields is a celebrated, award-winning artist and illustrator. He was born in Manchester, England, in 1954 and graduated from Northwich College of Art & Design in 1973. Chris became a self-employed wildlife artist in 1983 after nearly a decade working as a graphic artist and designer in several commercial art studios in the North West of England.
Today, he is recognised as one of the world's leading natural history illustrators, having created over 30,000 wildlife illustrations that have appeared in more than 300 books and periodicals.
He has exhibited his paintings widely from the UK to China and has artwork on display in public and private collections worldwide.
Maintaining and managing this private nature reserve is a year-round job. The main focus is to protect and preserve certain animals and plants by tackling invasive species and providing a protected place where flora and fauna can live and thrive. Our conservation efforts rely on a small group of volunteers to perform tasks such as habitat management and litter picking to ensure the area remains a viable haven for birds and other wildlife and to preserve its ecological value.
It is a key birdwatching site with high biodiversity, including species like Song Thrush and Mistle Thrush. The reserve is a significant site for wildfowl and waders, including species such as Shoveler, Gadwall, Grebe, Heron, Cormorant, Common and Green Sandpipers and Little Ringed Plover.
Pictured left is Chris with some of the other volunteers. As you can tell, it is hard work, but fun and rewarding.
Chris is a keen Argentine Tango performer and has taught this complex dance for over twenty years at the Instituto Cervantes (The Spanish Cultural and Language Centre) in Manchester. Chris also had the opportunity to teach the Argentine Tango while living in Shanghai, China.
This passion for tango has also manifested in some of his artworks, inspiring him to paint movement in both nature and the human form.
Pictured: Chris and his Tango partner Adrienne.
In addition to participating in wildlife conservation activities and tango, Chris has practised the Chinese martial art of Wing Chun for over 30 years at the Ching Mo Wing Chun School. This form of Kung Fu improves fitness and mental health. The school is dedicated to preserving and teaching authentic Wing Chun Kung Fu. Training combines centuries‑old traditions with modern, practical self‑defence; their teachings remain true to the original principles of efficiency, precision, and coordination.
Pictured: Chris with his Sifu, Billy Davidson (Sifu is a Cantonese term for "teacher"; it is a title that denotes respect towards the person addressed as Sifu), together with some of his Kung Fu brethren.
Chris's career has been one of significant achievements - read more...
