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Pets are charming. The English country side is charming. Together they are disarming,
combined and in the art of Jessica Holm. Even more interesting is that, in America, Holm is
known for her quaint and pleasing images of animals living in merrie old England, but in her
home country, she is far more famous as a television star. In fact, until recently her art had
never been seen outside her home except as illustrations on her wildlife educational television
shows. Always the animal lover first, Holm was born in Shakespeare country—stratford upon
Avon—but grew up in London in a houseful of pets. Her devotion led to years studying
zoology at the Royal Holloway College of London University. Little did she suspect that while
working as a biotechnician at the Institute of Terrestrial Ecology while completing her Ph.D.
study on the behavior of red squirrels, that her work would soon put her in show business.
During four years of solo fieldwork on the Isle of Wight, the venerable British Broadcasting
Company featured her squirrel studies on their popular Wildlife on One nature program. A
star was born, helped along by her subsequent book on squirrels, as well as many magazine
articles. For years afterward, she remained a television mainstay, hosting the BBC’s annual
coverage of the Crufts Dog Show and the national Cat Show, as well as making programs
about the English countryside. When not broadcasting, Holm has trained, worked, and shown
dogs of various breeds, including the first Italian Spinone to win gun-dog working test awards
in the U.K.
combined and in the art of Jessica Holm. Even more interesting is that, in America, Holm is
known for her quaint and pleasing images of animals living in merrie old England, but in her
home country, she is far more famous as a television star. In fact, until recently her art had
never been seen outside her home except as illustrations on her wildlife educational television
shows. Always the animal lover first, Holm was born in Shakespeare country—stratford upon
Avon—but grew up in London in a houseful of pets. Her devotion led to years studying
zoology at the Royal Holloway College of London University. Little did she suspect that while
working as a biotechnician at the Institute of Terrestrial Ecology while completing her Ph.D.
study on the behavior of red squirrels, that her work would soon put her in show business.
During four years of solo fieldwork on the Isle of Wight, the venerable British Broadcasting
Company featured her squirrel studies on their popular Wildlife on One nature program. A
star was born, helped along by her subsequent book on squirrels, as well as many magazine
articles. For years afterward, she remained a television mainstay, hosting the BBC’s annual
coverage of the Crufts Dog Show and the national Cat Show, as well as making programs
about the English countryside. When not broadcasting, Holm has trained, worked, and shown
dogs of various breeds, including the first Italian Spinone to win gun-dog working test awards
in the U.K.
Jessica Holm
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