Tony Galuidi’s “The Great Trees of Paradise” exhibition helps fund raise for Knoxwood Wildlife Rescue

By John Freeman on June 7, 2025 • ( 0 )

Fine artist Tony Galuidi is exhibiting some of his beautiful art at Brantwood, Coniston (former home of the Victorian writer, John Ruskin), and will be donating all proceeds of art sales to Knoxwood Wildlife Rescue Trust.

The Victorian writer and philosopher, John Ruskin, famously described a particular view of the Lake District as “The Gateway to Paradise” – and he wasn’t wrong. Cumbria is renowned throughout the world for its soaring mountains and shimmering lakes but this unique region has other tales to tell. Nestled amongst this spectacular landscape are some of Europe’s most ancient and magnificent trees.

The unique Cumbrian climate has allowed some of these trees to grow, unhindered by human interference, to spectacular proportions. Some of these trees, such as poet William Wordsworth’s fabled Yews in Borrowdale, are over two thousand years old and some of them are just breathtakingly huge. The Grand Fir in Stagshaw Gardens is the tallest tree in Cumbria and the tallest of its species in the UK.

Other trees are not so old or so huge but have fascinating stories of their own. The Rebel Tree, in Clifton, is a three hundred year old oak that conceals the bodies of soldiers that fell during the last battle on English soil and there is a tree on the shores of Coniston Water that, despite being badly damaged by lightning, continues to survive and gave hope to a woman battling against cancer. The tree is known as The Courageous Tree and, in 2017, was voted the best tree in Cumbria, in a Heritage Lottery fund project.

Artist and Cumbriaphile, Tony Galuidi, has spent years seeking out these fabulous trees and has created “The Great Trees of Cumbria”, an exhibition of exquisite pencil drawings. Tony, who has hosted a number of solo exhibitions throughout the UK, says “Creating the drawings is very intensive work but hunting for these awesome, characterful giants has been such a joy and learning how so many of these veteran trees are interwoven with our lives and social histories has been a revelation.”

All proceeds from sales of art on display will be donated to Knoxwood Wildlife Rescue Trust, near Carlisle, a Wildlife sanctuary that rescues and rehabilitates sick, injured and orphaned british wildlife on a five acre site in Cumbria.

“We are so grateful for this wonderful support and can’t wait for the event itself,” say the Trust. “Why don’t you come along? A lovely day out in Coniston, viewing some art, and maybe an ice cream by the lake after… don’t miss out!”

Brantwood, a historic house and vibrant centre for the arts on the shores of Coniston Water, was once the home of Victorian writer and philosopher, John Ruskin. Explore the character of its famous resident through displays and activities in the house, gardens, and estate.

• The Great Trees of Cumbria: Art by Tony Galuidi, Saturday 7th June – 10th August 2025, Brantwood, The Brantwood Trust, East of Lake, Coniston LA21 8AD | Exhibition Page | Brantwood Home Page

• Tony Galuidi is online at tonygaluidiart.com

About the Author
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John Freeman

John is the founder of downthetubes, launched in 1998. He is a comics and magazine editor, writer, and Press Officer for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He also runs Crucible Comic Press.

Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine and Overkill for Marvel UK, Babylon 5 Magazine, Star Trek Magazine, and its successor, Star Trek Explorer, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics; and has edited several comic collections and graphic novels, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”, and Hancock: The Lad Himself, by Stephen Walsh and Keith Page.

He’s the writer of comics such as Pilgrim: Secrets and Lies for B7 Comics; “Crucible”, a creator-owned project with 2000AD artist Smuzz; and “Death Duty” and “Skow Dogs”, with Dave Hailwood.