Bird Portraits

A collection of mixed-media drawings and digital illustrations created from 2014-2022 inspired by Lucy’s encounters with birds, from her garden in Leicester to parks and nature reserves across the UK and abroad.

Within each portrait, backgrounds and sections of colour are used to translate bird population data into abstract graphs and visual forms, exploring the relationship between scientific information and artistic interpretation. The birds are placed within vibrant, expressive environments, with abstract mark-making evoking the sounds, rhythms and energy of birdsong. These marks also establish a visual boundary between the birds’ natural habitats and the growing environmental threats posed by urbanisation, pollution and climate change.

Together, the works celebrate the beauty and individuality of birds while drawing attention to the environmental pressures that are increasingly shaping their habitats, populations and future.