Collection: Fins - Chris Packham & Simon Jones

Launching  Saturday 30 August

This summer also marks the 50^th anniversary of ‘JAWS’ the blockbusting Hollywood movie which did untold damage to sharks reputation , still fuels misinformation and misunderstanding and continues to hinder shark conservation worldwide . But times have changed , ‘FINS’ seeks to help redress the outdated views generated by the film by focusing on the sublime beauty of these animals form and through artistic appreciation re-direct peoples attention on the essential role these species play in the worlds marine ecosystems . If people admire nature through art , then art should stimulate a greater respect for life – all life .

Each fin is hand carved and unique , shaped to replicate the form of a particular species of shark or cetacean . The wood comes from the core root bowls of long fallen privately owned New Forest oaks - obviously no trees were felled for this project . This wood is very hard and heavy and each piece was selected in the field to match the desired species . The pieces are finished with a simple wax which enhances the colour and grain and every fin has a fossil sharks tooth of a similar species set into the base and has branded signatures from both artists .