VERY FINE ORIGINAL WATERCOLOUR OF A MALE SHINING LEAF CHAFER BEETLE (chrysophora chrysochlora)

UK, 1981. Painting. Very Good. Unframed. 9 x 18.5 cm. A extremely fine watercolour study, on board, of a male shining leaf chafer beetle, signed lower right corner and dated 1981. The "mount" size approximately 280 x 165 mm, overall dimension 330 x 245 mm. mounted on mounting board of slightly larger dimensions. [Biography: British artist and wildlife illustrator Chris Shields graduated Northwich College of Art and Design in 1973. For many decades he has pursued his passion for wildlife as a full-time self-employed illustrator, and is now regarded as one of the world's leading exponents of this genera. He has contributed wildlife illustrations to over 300 books, numerous calendars, greeting cards, postcards (including a fine series of 30 postcards of British birds for Grange Books/Royle) posters and jigsaw puzzles. He has exhibited his paintings widely in the UK and China and his paintings are held in public and private collections worldwide. He has a particular interest in moths and butterflies and was President of the Manchester Entomological Society. His illustrations of insects are particularly accomplished, very much in the best tradition of fine zoological illustration. Undoubtedly these highly detailed and accurate gouache and watercolour studies of wildlife subjects are his forte. His more expressive work is not always so successful.].