Needing to learn about bird conservation focusing on success stories.

Following meeting both Martin Harper and Honey Kohan in Brussels they generously asked me to prepare an artwork for the 100th Anniversary for Birdlife International.

I need to learn very fast about Bird conservation projects, success stories of re-introductions and good breeding techniques. I read as many books of reference and research as I could. Started visiting birdlife International in Cambridge, going to any possible bird sanctuary we were passing, particularly Slimbridge, who were amazing. I started reading “Rebirding’ my favourite nature author Benedict Macdonald whose work has such clarity and passion.

I want to thank photographer at Jonathan Bull and from the WWT Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust at Slimbridge who so generously sent me his incredible photos of the Turtledove, Curlew and Crane. Also thank you to Dave Leach from the BTO who let me have his photos of the Red Warbler nest. We had a long chat about what a nightmare he was having with avian bird flu. I owe you all a debt of gratitude, such precious and engendered birds need all our protection and support.

Preparing for exhibition at Bristol Botanic Gardens

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An strange and for me rather wonderful year drawing, painting, printing, planning editing out and re-planning different parts of the work from drawings of individual flowers, to trying to learn how to use augmented reality and been lucky enough to work with wonderful Chris Price at Curio Zubr.

https://curio.zubr.co

Learnt how to use a laser cutter and create DXF vector drawings, screen printing with thermochromic ink, working with marvellous John Rowden at the University Science glass department. Throughout I have been working with my very dear kind friend; Terry Jordan who can be seen below, both working on “Temple to Buttercup” which he routed out for me.

Thank you most especially to Dave Lawson, who has been an inspirational and gentle teacher, listened to me prattling on in an excited state, and of course without him this would never have happened.
The whole team have been wonderful and kind, if I name each, it might seem that I’m not grateful to everyone, so thank you all. Nick Wray, curator has been a delight to work with throughout, generous in thought and time showing me special plants of the gorgeous botanical Gardens, which is such a very special place and a huge credit to him.

Below is some of the work that I was working on, not all is in the exhibition, certainly not the bees.

Tools for Gardening

For as long as I can remember and as soon as I could walk, being out in the garden or in the fields close to our house was my favourite place to be.

Looking at how a fern uncoils, or the way the petals in a rose wrap themselves around the stamens and ovary, or lying on a bed of moss has always given me a great deal of  wonder. I’m very grateful that my late parents gave me time and space to do what must’ve seemed to them like very little activity. In this photo you can see I have a spoon in my hand as I liked to dig the garden with it, it must have been frustratingly slow for them to watch. I was given a small bed to grow seeds and was most excited to create a string fence around it, thinking it would keep the weeds off; no chance of course. I remember the joy this red amaryllis given as a Christmas present brought the whole family. It’s amazing isn’t it! What power of growth this flower bulb has.
Nowadays I use beautiful copper tools to work in the garden and they are an absolute joy, plus the powerful philosophy behind these inspirational tools provides food for thought when weeding. They are called Implementations https://www.implementations.co.uk and are one of the most wonderful gifts I have been given by multiple family members. I particularly find the Polux Hoe on the right brilliant for getting straight to the heart of a weed without lifting too much soil around.  We acquired them from my friend Simon Saggers who has the inspirational Guilden Gate Smallholding https://www.guildengate.co.uk in our village.