Celebrating Jonathan Truss: Winner of Abstract World in Wildlife Artist of the Year 2025

We at Westover Gallery are thrilled to share that Jonathan Truss has been awarded the Wildlife Artist of the Year 2025 prize by the David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation, in the Abstract World category — for his striking work A Dazzle of Zebra.

A Triumph of Form, Colour, and Wild Fascination

In A Dazzle of Zebra, Jonathan takes viewers into an immersive visual experience. By focusing on the signature black-and-white stripes of zebras — not merely as pattern, but as active camouflage — he places us in the mind of a predator: tasked with isolating a single form where nature offers none. The painting is more than representation; it’s an interplay of optical complexity, abstraction, and natural science.

This work encapsulates the spirit of the Abstract World category — art that is non-figurative, evoking the wild through shape, line, colour, and rhythm rather than literal depiction. Jonathan has long been known for blending meticulous wildlife study with bold painterly abstraction, a combination that surprises, delights, and provokes reflection.

A Career of Vision and Passion

With over three decades as a professional wildlife painter, Jonathan Truss has exhibited internationally and led art safaris across continents. His work is widely admired not only for its technical skill but also for how it bridges science, spectacle, and story. A Dazzle of Zebra reaffirms his position among the leading wildlife artists working today.

What This Means for Conservation and Community

Wildlife Artist of the Year isn’t just an art award; it’s a vital intersection of creativity and conservation. The competition, now in its 17th year, plays a key role in raising awareness and funding for endangered species and critical habitats. Every entry, every exhibition, every sale helps support the David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation’s projects across the globe.  Jonathan’s victory in Abstract World amplifies not only his own voice, but the power of abstraction to contribute to that larger story: to challenge people to see, to feel, to question — what does wildlife look like when filtered through memory, pattern, and perception? What does it mean when natural order becomes optical illusion?

Westover Gallery – Proud to Represent As representatives of Jonathan Truss, Westover Gallery is honoured to continue showcasing his work — originals and limited-edition prints — to collectors and audiences who appreciate both the aesthetic and the message. Jonathan’s success in this competition is a testament to his continual innovation, and we are excited to support his future creations.   Whether you have followed his career for years or are discovering it now, we invite you to explore A Dazzle of Zebra and other works: each piece an invitation into the wild, reimagined.

Looking Ahead

Jonathan’s win at WAY 2025 sets a new benchmark, but there is more to come. We look forward to further exhibitions, new works pushing the boundaries of abstraction and wildlife art, and connecting with you — our community of art-lovers and conservation supporters.  Once again, huge congratulations to Jonathan Truss on this well-deserved honour. Here’s to many more moments that illuminate the wild through art.