Beauty and the beasts: The 2017 Wildlife Artist of the Year exhibition

The shortlisted entrants for the 2017 Wildlife Artist of the Year prize go on display next month at the tenth annual David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation Week of Wildlife Art at the Mall Galleries in London.

Launched in 2007 to raise money for the protection of endangered wildlife, the competition brings together more than 160 original works by the world's best wildlife artists. Each piece is for sale and all profits go towards wildlife conservation projects across Africa and Asia.

"This year's shortlist brings the wild to life," says the award-winning artist Gary Hodges, one of the judges. "From the silence of a shark casting its shadowy form on the ocean bed to the scuttling of armadillos, the peacefulness of hippos wallowing in the early morning sun and the symphony of birdsong at dusk, selecting the overall winner from this amazing collection will be extremely hard."

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The recipient of the £10,000 prize will be announced on the morning of 27 June, the day before the exhibition opens its doors to the public.

Visitors will also have the opportunity to see The Bigger Picture, an exhibition of art, photography and film capturing the life of a wildlife ranger tackling poachers in Zambia.

Shepherd says: "I set up my foundation with the sole purpose of giving something back to the animals which helped me achieve success as an artist. At a time when the world's wildlife is under such devastating pressure from expanding human populations and the illegal trade, it seems fitting that we take a step back and reflect on the sheer beauty and diversity of our natural world and what could be lost if we do not truly appreciate the value of the world around us."

The David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation Week of Wildlife Art is at the Threadneedle Space at the Mall Galleries, London SW1, from 28 June to 2 July. The gallery is open from 10am to 5pm (4pm on Saturday and 1pm on Sunday) and entry is by donation.