Alex McGarry, an award-winning artist known for her wildlife paintings, held an exclusive exhibition on the P&O Britannia cruise ship.
The exhibition featured 37 new paintings and was held in the Clarendon Gallery on the ship.
McGarry’s works were met with enthusiasm, resulting in 24 pieces being sold within just two days—a career-best for the artist.
The artist said: “The exhibition was really well received; I couldn’t believe the reaction to my paintings and the number of sales in such a short space of time!”
Guests on the cruise were treated to a private viewing of McGarry’s paintings, followed by two live painting demonstrations.
These demonstrations, which were held in the ship’s theatre, attracted hundreds of spectators.
McGarry, who has no formal art training, comes from a background rich in wildlife painting.
Her father, Pip McGarry, is a renowned wildlife artist, and he encouraged Alex to paint her first subject—a baby deer—when she was just nine years old.
This early experience foreshadowed the passion that would shape her career.
After spending years as a successful interior designer, McGarry decided to follow her passion for art and opened her own studio in Andover, Hampshire.
Since then, her career has flourished.
In 2019, she was named ‘Up and Coming Artist of the Year’ by the Fine Art Trade Guild.
She is now represented by De Montfort Fine Art, the UK’s leading distributor of original paintings.
Her work is featured in galleries across the UK and on luxury cruise ships including P&O and Cunard.
In 2023, McGarry was appointed Artist in Residence at the Hawk Conservancy Trust, a charity dedicated to the conservation of birds of prey.
Her art has raised tens of thousands of pounds for the cause.
Last year, she joined TV wildlife presenters Chris Packham and Megan McCubbin at a ‘Night of Nature’ event, where she created a live painting of a barn owl at sunset.
This painting was raffled, with all proceeds going to the Trust.
McGarry will next appear at the Hawk Conservancy Trust’s Art Weekend on Saturday, August 9, and Sunday, August 10.
More details about the event can be found on the Hawk Conservancy Trust’s website.