Red-rumped Wheatears’ nests, found in Algeria 1911 Watercolour 35 x 69cm by Lillias August ©
Project news – Birds and people
As you may know, I have been working on a project with Douglas G D Russell, Senior Curator of Eggs and Nests at the Natural History Museum. We have been investigating and interpreting nests that contain manmade materials.
My series begins with a nest found in 1902 at the end of the 2nd Boer war in South Africa and ends in 2025 in Ukraine. To begin and end in a war zone was unintentional but it feels meaningful. In contrast, another nest is from the Chelsea flower show in 1983. Each painting will speak about their place in history and their environment and I hope that the paintings will enhance their stories. They leave a lot for us to think about.
I will be exhibiting the first 4 paintings, including the one above, at the BOU International Conference (British Ornithological Union) in Nottingham, 31 March 2026, 12:00 – 2 April 2026, and hope than it will be a point of interest for the attendees and others – our words from the poster are written below (you may have to enlarge it to read!). The conference title is ‘Birds and People’ so it was an opportunity not to be missed and each painting will be described from artistic, historical and scientific perspectives.
The 4 paintings will then be on show at the North House gallery in Manningtree, in an exhibition ‘Earth Now’, 16 May – 27 June, as part of the Manningtree Earth Festival organised by PACE (Practical Action for the Climate and Environment). The completed series, consisting of 10 – 12 paintings, will be exhibited in 2027.
The Royal Institute of Painters in Water Colours (RI) 2026 – annual exhibition
The RI exhibition at the Mall Galleries, London, starts soon. Here is a link to see all the work. The Private View is on Tuesday 24 March, 5 – 9pm, and your invitation is below. The exhibition continues until 11 April. I will be there at the Private View and to meet and greet visitors the next day, Wednesday 25 March, 10am – 5pm.
I will be exhibiting six paintings including this group of 4 doors and windows from near and far – Japan, Italy, Portugal and my home county in the uk. The Japanese sign below the paper window reads ‘Best on Earth’ and I would love to know what it described – there are stories behind every painting – the best ones are in our imagination.
The RI exhibition showcases over 400 works from both members and non-members, and is the place to go to see the many different approaches to water-based media. I hope that you can visit.
Paper window, Japan / Cladding, Suffolk / Deserted doorway, Portugal / Palladian visitor, Italy
Watercolurs 32 x 35cm by Lillias August ©
