In 2020, Lucy was granted access to the museum’s basement collection, accompanied by photographer Bill Newsinger, to select familiar British garden and woodland birds as the subjects for this body of work.

Responding to each bird’s distinctive plumage, Lucy developed individual colour palettes using a variety of mixed media, including paint, spray paint, wax pastel and Indian ink. Expressive, instinctive mark-making captures the shape, scale and physical presence of each bird, while smaller, more delicate notations evoke the subtleties of their birdsong.

Created on 310gsm Fabriano paper, the works combine original photography with layered mixed-media techniques to offer a contemporary, interpretive response to the museum’s collection. Each piece is presented in a bespoke wooden frame, complementing the work’s vibrant palette and distinctive visual language.