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‘Last Light’ wins Award of Excellence at American Plains Artists Juried Exhibition
(June 20, 2026) - Anne Peyton’s “Last Light,” a portrait of a Barn Owl, earned an Award of Excellence on the opening night of the 41st American Plains Artists Juried Show at the Fort Concho National Historic Landmark in San Angelo, Texas. Landscape artist Phil Bob Borman selected the winning artworks.
“Barn Owls are amazing creatures but they operate on their own time,” Peyton said. “Even if you scout for them and know the trees where they roost, you are never guaranteed a sighting. The best you can hope for is a rustle in the tree, a bright moon, or a vocalization.
“The oddest roost site I’ve witnessed was a two-sided billboard along the Salt River riparian corridor in downtown Phoenix. As the sun was setting and the local Great-horned Owls were starting to hunt, there came a loud cricket chirp from between the billboards: a tell-tale giveaway a barn owl was present. I couldn't see the owl within the dark space, but when it got darker, it began to move around.
“When it reached the far end, I was able to briefly see its silhouette before it flew down into the river bed for its evening hunt.”
The exhibit is in Fort Concho’s Quartermaster Gallery and runs through August 2.‘On the Road to Grand Targhee’ heading to 39th Western Visions Show + Sale
(June 7, 2026) - Anne Peyton’s “On the Road to Grand Targhee,” a portrait of a Great Gray Owl, will appear in the 39th Western Visions Show + Sale at the National Museum of Wildlife Art in Jackson, Wyo.
“For many years the Great Gray Owl was my nemesis bird, the bird you know is near but you can never find,” Peyton said. ”Craig and I had been seeking one these forest spirits since our honeymoon.”
”On our most recent trip to the Tetons and Yellowstone, we spent the night in Driggs, Idaho. Before dinner, we decided to drive up to the Grand Targhee ski area and see what we could find. Just past the two switchbacks above Teton Canyon, I caught a quick glimpse of something and I asked Craig to make a U-turn after a few corners. Retracing our path, the forest looked different when suddenly there was a gray shape in the midst of the thick green-and-black woods.
“Finally, we had our life bird and the photos to paint the experience!”
Western Visions runs from Sept. 6-28, with the primary sale on Sept. 11.
Anne Peyton Selected for Signature Member Status with American Society of Marine Artists
(May 3, 2026) - Arizona artist Anne Peyton has been accepted as one of 12 new Signature Members of the American Society of Marine Artists for 2026.
“Although I live in the Sonoran Desert, we have a strong connection with water, including the Pacific Ocean,” Peyton said. “Every winter we have Arctic birds that choose Arizona as a destination, and our summer monsoons can blow tropical seabirds like pelicans, frigatebirds, and shearwaters into our desert resevoirs.
“Also, San Diego and other Southern California hotspots are just a few hours from home,” Peyton added. “It’s sun, surf, fog, storms, fun to paint, and always different.”
Three Anne Peyton Paintings Appear in ‘Over Land and Sea’
(Oct. 23, 2025) - “Ripples,” “Wanderer,” and “Sunset” - three paintings from Arizona artist Anne Peyton - will be on display at The Aiken Center For the Arts’ “Over Land and Sea” exhibition.”
“This show was conceived by my friend Jeff Birchill, who lives and carves sculptures near Aiken, South Carolina,” Peyton said. “He worked with the museum staff to bring world-class nature art to Aiken in 2024, and it was so well received that this second edition is now a reality.”
‘Intensity’ Chosen for SAA’s 65th Art & the Animal Exhibition
(Oct. 8, 2025) - “Intensity,” Anne Peyton’s portrait of a Long-crested Eagle, was selected for the 65th Art & the Animal Exhibition of the Society of Animal Artists. The exhibition appears at The Art Museum of Eastern Idaho in Idaho Falls between October 10, 2025 and January 3, 2026 with artist demonstrations on October 11.
“The long-crested eagle has a wide distribution throughout much of the African continent. They currently live successfully in many different habitats, including natural and man-made, such as plantations. According to a paper released in 2022 by the Peregrine Fund, this relatively small eagle, which is thought of as one of Kenya’s most iconic raptors, has declined in numbers by 94 percent over the past 40 years.
“The decline is due to collisions with electrical infrastructure and cars, electrocutions, habitat fragmentation, habitat loss or deliberate, or incidental poisoning. All of these issues are things that can be fairly easily addressed with some effort.”
Distinguished: This year’s exhibit is Peyton’s 15th selection to Art & the Animal Kingdom, allowing her to become a Distinguished Signature Member of the SAA.
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