Made in England - Pollyanna Pickering

Pollyanna Pickering's advice: how to improve your drawing

Pollyanna Pickering

Renowned wildlife artist Pollyanna Pickering went on a journey of discovery away from her usual locality to go in search of the unfamiliar, to reflect England as an interesting mix of the diverse and the traditional.

Pollyanna hadn't drawn another human being for nearly 40 years! In this programme she boldly stepped forward, to observe and draw the human form in its many guises. As Pollyanna unravelled the similarities and contrasts between the animal kingdom and the society we live in today, what conclusions did she draw?

The East Midlands

Although Pollyanna is more used to drawing animals like polar bears and wolves she only had a few weeks to get back to grips with human characteristics. So instead of taking her to see live tigers she went to Leicester to her first ever rugby match getting up close and personal with the Tigers, the city's world famous team.

Pollyanna joined the snappers on the sidelines, as they tried to capture an image which told the story of the game. Could she capture the grace and brutality of a game, using paints instead of a photo?

To see just how other artists interpret England in 2008, Pollyanna saw Hetain Patel, an artist who uses his body as his canvas.

Pollyanna watched as Hetain used traditional Indian pigments to paint his torso in time to rhythmical music. It was Pollyanna's task to try to duplicate his art form through hers.

Other highlights include meeting the designers of tomorrow at the University of Derby's state of the art fashion college, and going in search of food – at Leicester's world famous market.

The finale saw Pollyanna bringing many of the people she has met on her journey together, as she unveiled her new work.

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