We need wetlands
We hear a lot about trees and how we need to plant a lot more of them. But in our haste to do so we mustn’t forget about other habitats too. We need insect and invertebrate rich meadows and moorlands for our ground nesting birds and we need wetlands as well. A mixed landscape increases biodiversity and wetlands are a very important part of that mix.
Wetlands are disappearing three times faster than forests yet 40% of the world’s plants and animals live or breed on wetlands. So this series celebrates these special habitats. This woodcut follows the creek out through the salt marsh into the estuary towards Denny Island and the Welsh hills.
These are my first proof prints. The image size is 15 x 15 cm. The ink is applied thickly so I can inscribe words when it is still wet.
Other Woodcut related posts
Curlew Sound
About these series of woodcuts A – Curlew Sound 3 B – Curlew Sound 7 C – Curlew Sound 8 D – Curlew Sound 9
Barn Owl over salt marsh
About these Barn Owl woodcuts A – Barn Owl variable edition 2 B – Barn Owl variable edition 3 C – Barn Owl variable edition 4 D – Barn Owl […]
Curlew postcard
Thanks to the David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation (DSWF) asking for a postcard size donation I have discovered a new format. It has been great fun creating these postcard curlews. Applying the […]
Wildlife Artist of the Year
Curlew art selected for Wildlife Artist of the Year It is always good to have curlews represented at major exhibitions to draw attention to their plight. So I am delighted […]
Moon and Curlew
Moon and Curlew 4 On the edge of the salt marsh – the moon and curlewOn the edge of the tidecurlews calla beautiful andhaunting sound On the edge of the […]
Curlews in the Estuary – but for how long?
Curlews in the Estuary – but for how long? This new generation of prints has the curlews’ tale scribed into the ink. A winter’s walk along the salt marsh path […]
Curlews in the Estuary
About this series of woodcuts The image size is 25 x 25 cm. They are printed on Arches Aquarelle acid-free paper using Caligo Safe Wash inks. Click on images to […]
Edge of Salt Marsh
Edge of Salt Marsh is a series of hand printed woodcuts and because they are hand printed each one is different. When you apply more ink and press firmly you […]
Curlew Sound
Curlew Sound are postcard sized woodcuts. This is a variable edition so each one is different. This series is inspired by curlews flying past me in the estuary as I gazed towards the Welsh hills. If you like these you might also like the Curlew Sound series with Denny Island.
The curlew is”Near Threatened” which means it is at risk of extinction in the near future. These woodcuts highlight the curlew’s plight.
About these series of woodcuts
The image size is 15 x 10 cm. This series of woodcuts is hand printed in several layers, so each print is different (variable editions). They are printed on Arches Aquarelle acid-free paper using Caligo Safe Wash inks.
Click on image to enlarge.
A – Curlew Sound 3
B – Curlew Sound 7
C – Curlew Sound 8
D – Curlew Sound 9
Other Woodcut related posts
Curlew Sound
About these series of woodcuts A – Curlew Sound 3 B – Curlew Sound 7 C – Curlew Sound 8 D – Curlew Sound 9
Barn Owl over salt marsh
About these Barn Owl woodcuts A – Barn Owl variable edition 2 B – Barn Owl variable edition 3 C – Barn Owl variable edition 4 D – Barn Owl […]
Curlew postcard
Thanks to the David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation (DSWF) asking for a postcard size donation I have discovered a new format. It has been great fun creating these postcard curlews. Applying the […]
Wildlife Artist of the Year
Curlew art selected for Wildlife Artist of the Year It is always good to have curlews represented at major exhibitions to draw attention to their plight. So I am delighted […]
Moon and Curlew
Moon and Curlew 4 On the edge of the salt marsh – the moon and curlewOn the edge of the tidecurlews calla beautiful andhaunting sound On the edge of the […]
Curlews in the Estuary – but for how long?
Curlews in the Estuary – but for how long? This new generation of prints has the curlews’ tale scribed into the ink. A winter’s walk along the salt marsh path […]
Curlews in the Estuary
About this series of woodcuts The image size is 25 x 25 cm. They are printed on Arches Aquarelle acid-free paper using Caligo Safe Wash inks. Click on images to […]
Edge of Salt Marsh
Edge of Salt Marsh is a series of hand printed woodcuts and because they are hand printed each one is different. When you apply more ink and press firmly you […]
Barn Owl over salt marsh
I came early to the salt marsh. The moon is full and the tide rising as a barn owl hunts for tide-flushed voles. The barn owl sees more than me beneath the tangled stems. This world is sometimes sea and sometimes land. It is home to mice, voles, crabs and fish.
About these Barn Owl woodcuts
The image size is 20 cm x 20cm. This series of woodcuts is hand printed in several layers, so each print is different (variable editions). They are printed on Arches Aquarelle acid-free paper using Caligo Safe Wash inks.
A – Barn Owl variable edition 2
B – Barn Owl variable edition 3
C – Barn Owl variable edition 4
D – Barn Owl variable edition 5
Other Woodcut related posts
Curlew Sound
About these series of woodcuts A – Curlew Sound 3 B – Curlew Sound 7 C – Curlew Sound 8 D – Curlew Sound 9
Barn Owl over salt marsh
About these Barn Owl woodcuts A – Barn Owl variable edition 2 B – Barn Owl variable edition 3 C – Barn Owl variable edition 4 D – Barn Owl […]
Curlew postcard
Thanks to the David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation (DSWF) asking for a postcard size donation I have discovered a new format. It has been great fun creating these postcard curlews. Applying the […]
Wildlife Artist of the Year
Curlew art selected for Wildlife Artist of the Year It is always good to have curlews represented at major exhibitions to draw attention to their plight. So I am delighted […]
Moon and Curlew
Moon and Curlew 4 On the edge of the salt marsh – the moon and curlewOn the edge of the tidecurlews calla beautiful andhaunting sound On the edge of the […]
Curlews in the Estuary – but for how long?
Curlews in the Estuary – but for how long? This new generation of prints has the curlews’ tale scribed into the ink. A winter’s walk along the salt marsh path […]
Curlews in the Estuary
About this series of woodcuts The image size is 25 x 25 cm. They are printed on Arches Aquarelle acid-free paper using Caligo Safe Wash inks. Click on images to […]
Edge of Salt Marsh
Edge of Salt Marsh is a series of hand printed woodcuts and because they are hand printed each one is different. When you apply more ink and press firmly you […]
The Artist Award
How wonderful to win The Artist Award at the 2021 Wildlife Artist of the Year Exhibition!
Thank you to the editor of The Artist Magazine for choosing this woodcut. It is one of a series of variable edition woodcuts “Curlew in the Estuary – but for how long?”.
Each one in this series of hand printed, inscribed woodcuts is unique with different words and colours.
Curlew postcard
Thanks to the David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation (DSWF) asking for a postcard size donation I have discovered a new format. It has been great fun creating these postcard curlews.
Applying the ink thickly meant I could scribe words into the surface of these individually hand printed woodcuts. I like making marks in the ink and creating textural effects. Inspiration comes from my views across the Severn Estuary. A very stylised Denny Island has sneaked in as well. I can never resist a shapely island!
Curlew Sound variable edition 5
Curlew Sound variable edition 7
Curlew Sound variable edition 8
The curlew postcard created for the David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation
It is a lovely way for artists taking part in the Wildlife of the Artist of the Year (WAY) exhibition to further help the cause of wildlife conservation.This curlew postcard can be purchased directly from the David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation Shop. All the donated postcards by the selected WAY artists are for sale at £60. This donation supports the DSWF’s conservation work.
Other Woodcut related posts
Curlew Sound
About these series of woodcuts A – Curlew Sound 3 B – Curlew Sound 7 C – Curlew Sound 8 D – Curlew Sound 9
Barn Owl over salt marsh
About these Barn Owl woodcuts A – Barn Owl variable edition 2 B – Barn Owl variable edition 3 C – Barn Owl variable edition 4 D – Barn Owl […]
Curlew postcard
Thanks to the David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation (DSWF) asking for a postcard size donation I have discovered a new format. It has been great fun creating these postcard curlews. Applying the […]
Wildlife Artist of the Year
Curlew art selected for Wildlife Artist of the Year It is always good to have curlews represented at major exhibitions to draw attention to their plight. So I am delighted […]
Moon and Curlew
Moon and Curlew 4 On the edge of the salt marsh – the moon and curlewOn the edge of the tidecurlews calla beautiful andhaunting sound On the edge of the […]
Curlews in the Estuary – but for how long?
Curlews in the Estuary – but for how long? This new generation of prints has the curlews’ tale scribed into the ink. A winter’s walk along the salt marsh path […]
Curlews in the Estuary
About this series of woodcuts The image size is 25 x 25 cm. They are printed on Arches Aquarelle acid-free paper using Caligo Safe Wash inks. Click on images to […]
Edge of Salt Marsh
Edge of Salt Marsh is a series of hand printed woodcuts and because they are hand printed each one is different. When you apply more ink and press firmly you […]
Wildlife Artist of the Year
Curlew art selected for Wildlife Artist of the Year
It is always good to have curlews represented at major exhibitions to draw attention to their plight. So I am delighted that 2021 Wildlife Artist of the Year (WAY) selected these two curlew woodcuts.
However, it is a bitter sweet moment. It is always great to have your work chosen, but sad that the curlew now “qualifies” in the Facing Extinction category. Just a few years ago “facing extinction” seemed reserved for exotic creatures in far flung locations. The big hitters like elephants, rhinos and gorillas but now it has reached the curlew on my humble salt marshes.
As a Curlew Action Ambassador my aim is to raise awareness so thrilled that it is on show here and will be seen by lots of people.
The Mall Galleries in London usually hosts this exhibition but this year due to COVID it is on-line. The David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation who organise this exhibition quote some alarming statistics:
- 40% of the world’s wildlife has been wiped out in the last 50 years.
- 1,000,000 species of plants, insects and mammals are at risk of extinction.
UPDATE Curlew picks up an award at Wildlife Artist of the Year . . .
Immensely honoured, thank you!
Moon and Curlew
Linked in name and nature, the Moon and Curlew, this woodcut celebrates them both.
The curlew’s ancient Greek name is Numenius meaning new moon. One of my favourite views is of a full moon tiptoeing from left to right across the top of Eastwood. It is an unusual sight as the moon’s path doesn’t often track this way.
Another marvel at this time of year is the migration of millions of birds. They move across the planet to find a favourable place to spend the winter. Curlews are one of these migrant birds and last winter I saw about 50 curlews here. So I am keeping my fingers crossed they will return again this year.
I often scribe stories into the wet ink of these Moon and Curlew woodcuts. Sometimes it is the story of the curlew whose numbers are falling dramatically; or the story of the salt marsh, a Site of Special Scientific Interest, which is also under threat.
The image size is 20 cm x 20 cm and an additional print or prints in the margin. Each woodcut is printed with Caligo Safe Wash inks on Arches Aquarelle acid-free paper.
Moon and Curlew 4
On the edge of the salt marsh – the moon and curlew
On the edge of the tide
curlews call
a beautiful and
haunting sound
On the edge of the tide
they feed as the moon
pulls back the sea
On the edge of extinction
curlews are struggling
and need our help
Moon and Curlew 5
The moon and curlew
are old friends
in name and nature
Centuries ago
inspired by the
curve of its beak
the Ancient Greeks
named the curlew
after the new moon
“Numenius”
As the moon pulls out the tide
coastal mud flats are exposed
and this is where
the winter curlews feed
So it will be
for centuries to come
if we can save the curlew
from extinction
Moon and Curlew 6
The moon and curlew are old friends in name and nature
Numenius
meaning new moon
is the Ancient Greek
name for the curlew
perhaps inspired by its
crescent shaped beak
In nature winter curlews
rely on the moon
to pull out the tides
so they can feed
on the exposed mud.
So it will be
for centuries to come
if we can save the curlew
from extinction.
Moon and Curlew 10
Moon and Curlew 11
At risk of extinction
If you don’t
know our name
If you haven’t
seen us
If you haven’t
heard us
you will not care
about us
Once you know our name
once you have seen us
once you have heard us
you will care
We are curlew
Numenius arquata
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