Anthony Hillman

Anthony Hillman, born in Atlantic City,New Jersey in 1948 was able to take advantage of his seashore location to study the local wildlife, most particularly birds. The ocean,bay, and marshes were familiar haunts as he grew up with a talent for drawing and painting. He started to carve decoys for gunning use while in his twenties,and makes the traditional hollow-bodied Barnegat style floating decoy he used for many years. Trained as a commercial illustrator, he co-authored and illustrated 3 pattern books with 3rd generation carver Harry V. Shourds II. In the ensuing years Mr. Hillman authored 30 more titles of his own,including several painting books,and self published "Fish Painting- A Guide for Carvers and Artists" available directly from the author. www.HillmanArt.com

Shorebirds are his favorite subjects,and apparently his customers' favorites as well. Anthony has sold many full size and miniature waterfowl subjects, shipping his carvings all over the United States and several countries.

Besides birds,fish are another of his carving subjects,with several species of fresh and salt-water varieties carved as decoratives or as functioning fish decoys. Mr. Hillman continues to actively produce his carvings from his home in Cape May Court House, NJ. He designs his own carving patterns, and thousands of carvers have learned the craft from his books.