It’s nearly time for the British Birdwatching Fair (aka Bird Fair)…. for the twenty fifth time. Can it really be the 25th anniversary? A lot of water under the bridge, and a lot of money raised for conservation – over £2,000,000, to date.
A previous year’s display.
As usual, I’ll be in the Art marquee, on Stand 50 & 51, with a display of artwork, prints and puzzles, and a small display about two new books: the Birds of Gloucestershire and The Wildlife Artist’s Handbook. Plus I’ll have my cover illustration for The Birdwatcher’s Yearbook 2014 on display.
As well as art, there will be competitions, talks, trade stands, cruises, and an auction taking place, all nestling in the glorious scenery of Rutland Water. If you love the countryside, it’s certainly the place to be.
One of my favourite parts of BirdFair is painting the Mural. More than forty artists take part over the three days, with each of us choosing a couple of species to paint. This year the theme is American Grasslands, and I’ll be painting Scarlet Ibis and Prairie Falcon. There’s a real camaraderie amongst the artists, and it’s great to see the mural taking shape during Bird Fair. For some artists the only time they ever paint in acrylics is on the mural, and for the sculptors it may be the only time they ever paint.
The best part of Bird Fair though is the chance for like-minded people to meet up, have a great time and raise money for conservation. It’s a really happy fair: fun, informative and friendly. You can’t ask for more than that.
Do come and say hello if you are coming to the Fair. Here’s the link to plan your visit:
http://www.birdfair.org.uk/
