I’ve recently been busy on illustrations for The Landscape Institute to help promote Green Infrastructure in their new publication Local Green Infrastructure - Helping communities make the most of their landscape. The above is a hybrid image which started out as a loose acrylic painting 36x24cm; I then drew in the building details and tiny features such as vehicles and distant wind turbines digitally. The document can be downloaded from the LI website.
The digital diagrams showing aspects of green infrastructure have been developed into an animated landscape in a Landscape Institute video - take a look on Youtube.
I’ll be running a one-day Saturday workshop on
Wildlife Drawing and Painting for the Cambridge Art Circle on 28 April 2012. Details available later.
I occasionally set up a temporary Open Studio to give visitors a chance to see my
new work, to see a range of paintings in progress at different stages, and to discuss
techniques and working methods.
Yvonne Barnett exhibits her silver jewellery, stained glass and prints at the same
location. You can take a look at one of our garden /studio exhibitions below -
in this case we were invited by Bob and Jean Jones to take over the leafy setting
of their garden and new studio for a few weeks. Take a quick tour via the button
below.
For 15 years I have shown work at
British Birdwatching Fair at Rutland Water
the biggest birdwatching event in the world, with over 22,000 visitors in 3 days. The Art Marquee is always over-brimming with wildlife art in all styles and media, and it ‘s great to catch up with regulars and to meet new friends. Thanks to all those who have singled out my work amongst this superabundance.
Garden Design Courses
I recently ran 3 one-day courses
on aspects of garden design at
Cambridge University Botanic Garden
Introduction to garden design: the smaller garden
Designing a water-conscious garden
Designing a garden to give year-round interest
Please get in touch if you need any help on these topics.
Darwin Exhibition at Christ’s College, Cambridge
I was delighted to be commissioned by Christ’s College to prepare a number of paintings for inclusion in the exhibition ‘Charles Darwin: On Land and At Sea’ in the Old Library, on display with many of Darwin’s letters and other original documents. The exhibition celebrated 200 years since Darwin’s birth and 150 years since the first publication of ‘On the Origin of Species’. Darwin’s old room was authentically restored to how it appeared during his time at the College.
One of Darwin’s favourite beetles, Panagaeus cruxmajor
Those famous Galapagos finches, still adapting to harsh conditions.
The land iguana, which Darwin said had “a singularly stupid appearance”.
RIBA Award for Bird Hides at RSPB Titchwell
I am delighted that architects Haysom Ward Miller of Cambridge have earned an award from the Royal Institute of British Architects for the design of the new Parrinder Hide at RSPB Titchwell. I was first involved in the issue of provision for birdwatching on the Norfolk Heritage Coast in 1992, and having had an input to this project at various stages this is a great result. (More background on my Perspectives page).
Other recent work includes illustrations for The Great Fen Project, commissioned paintings, workshops for local art groups, garden designs around the Cambridge area, and interpretation panels - details to follow soon.