Arts Diary: New sanctuary for popular animal art.

Byline: MIKE CHAPPLE

NEW home has been found for the animals portrayed in this year's National Exhibition of Wildlife Art. After five successful years as the guest of Road Range's Pier Head salesrooms, organisers had to find a new venue for what is now Britain's biggest and most prestigious exhibition of wild life art.

The site is about to be redeveloped to make way for the Fourth Grace, the so-called Cloud building designed by Will Alsop.

So this year it will be staged at the Gordale Garden Centre in the Wirral village of Burton and the NEWA is not just staging its biggest exhibtion since its inception 13 years ago, but also hoping it will receive its highest number of visitors.

``This year we will have works submitted from all over the world -- South Africa, Italy, Canada, Japan and France, plus of course other artists from all over the United Kingdom whose works have been collected from 15 pick-up points from around the country thanks to a free van which Road Range have kindly continued to provide, '' said spokesman David Wilson.

``The selection of 350 works was made from the initial 480 submitted by 220 artists some of whom are very well known indeed. ''

This will be reflected in some of the prices for the works which will range from pounds 100 to pounds 11, 000 with buyers already booked in to snap up the best earlypickings. Admission is free, however -- although the organisers hope that visitors will buy the programme priced at just pounds 1 and whose numbers they are confident will surpass the 3, 500 people who visited last year.

Mr Wilson says that, as ever, British birds have proved to be an especially popular subject although the pictures of the more exotic creatures such as lions and tigers have a huge fan base too, both with the artists and the viewing public.

Visitors coming from Liverpool should take the junction 5 turn-off on the M53.

The exhibition opens tomorrow and lasts until Sunday August 1. Opening times are from 10 am until 6pm with late opening on Thursday until 7pm. There is also ample car parking.

CAPTION(S):

A picture of teal over marshland will be on display when the exhibition opens tomorrow at Burton, Wirral; Lions are a popular subject