Badgers on my mind... beautiful persecuted creatures... like so much of our wildlife. I often ask myself how i can help wildlife. The increased #badgercull puts most of cornwall in a cull zone. I find it truly tragic... Derek Jensen said once that we should 'use our talent in service of our land mass' what ever that might mean to us as individuals so any ideas would be most welcome! Thus is why I have been doing my #daychallenge so that one post a day speaks of a worthwhile charity @badgertrust needs all the support it can get right now I think.

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#30daychallenge researching the work of one charity and sharing with 1 painting today @mcs_uk The Marine Conservation Society is the UK’s leading charity for the protection of our seas, shores and wildlife. For over thirty years MCS has been the voice for the sea for all the fascinating creatures that live beneath the waves, for our breath-taking coastal environment, for all those who make a sustainable living from the sea and for everyone who simply enjoys visiting the beach and our glorious coastline

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Close up and personal ... with a Barn Owl ... I should put my barn owl cards into a collection I think. If you would like to see them there is a link in my profile

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Today on my #30daychallenge i have a sparrow hawk and the @hawkconservancy this is what they say "mission is the conservation of birds of prey. The simplicity of this statement belies the complexity of the tasks it requires and the long-term commitment and investment. The threats facing bird of prey populations around the world are numerous. A majority of bird of prey species are under pressure to a lesser or greater extent and the conservation actions used to defend against these threats are varied and often innovative. As a result, our operational philosophy is one of evidence-based conservation management. Our conservation and research work takes place in the UK and overseas. Education is a key part of conservation and is a fundamental element of everything we do. The more people know about the work we do and the importance of looking after birds of prey, then the greater chance we have of protecting them. Our National Bird of Prey Hospital™ can receive and treat more than 200 sick, injured or orphaned birds of prey each year. Our hospital also acts as the base for our research projects that benefit wild, injured and rehabilitated, birds of prey." I am really enjoying researching these amazing charities every day... 😊

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Acrobats of the sky...lapwings, I have been titling my work for my website today, this painting was inspired by my experience of these wonderful birds and poetry, Mary Oliver refers to "starlings in winter" as acrobats and I felt it applied to lapwings as well... there are often flocks around the @rspb_love_nature reserve at hayle estuary...I must ensure I catch up with them again this year...

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#30daychallenge 1 painting and 1 charity it has to be the @barnowltrust today I love painting barn owls this one now has a beautiful new home at The Cabin @carolgunwen. " The Barn Owl Trust is a UK charity which aims to conserve the Barn Owl and its environment. We carry out practical conservation, research and educational work, advise farmers, government and landowners, and run a free information service. We also look after sick and injured owls in a genuine owl sanctuary - a place of peaceful retreat." They also have some very interesting films and advice on their website ...

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This is a small Balearic Shearwater painting one of the paintings I made for the #red67book this is not the one I selected in the end, beautiful birds with a haunting call. My work considers the often tumultuous contemporary world our wildlife has to navigate... The #red67 book is soon to be published in support of the BTO and the RSPB. There are 67 artists and writers creating pieves about the 67 birds on the UK red list. I am also in very talented company in cornwall including @thickets_studio @bethgarnett_illustration And @wynonalegg duch a great cause watch this space for more information!

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This little gaggle of Snowgeese was painted after a visit to @wwtslimbridge too... such a friendly little group wandering around looking for the next person with a bag of food. The original painting was 80 x 80 cm and left for a new home sometime ago. I do still have it as a popular 15 x 15 cm greetings card though there is a link in my profile if you would like to see more about my cards etc.

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#30daychallenge... 1 Charity & 1 of my June Challenge paintings each day. Today a Wren and SongBird Survival (SBS). This is what they say abou themselves " an independent charity which funds research into the alarming decline in Britain’s much loved songbirds. With your support we hope to raise awareness of the plight of song and other small birds, research the causes of their decline, and promote solutions to restore songbird numbers." #songbirdsurvival

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In 7 days I hope to be sending out my September bird of the month, if you would like to get my free August ebook based on the Blackbird you can sign up to my studio insights (link in profile) and a link will be sent to you by return.

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#30daychallege 1 painting and 1 charity a day...although not know for their Rooks the Rooks at @wwtslimbridge are wonderful this is a little more of what the @wwtworldwide say about themselves "Here at WWT we conserve, restore and create wetlands, save wetland wildlife, and inspire everyone to value the amazing things healthy wetlands achieve for people and nature. WWT was founded by Sir Peter Scott as a conservation charity to protect wetlands for wildlife and people. We believe that showing people first-hand how amazing wetlands are can ignite their passion to help us conserve them – so we also welcome one million visitors every year to our unique wetland reserves,. Almost all life depends on wetlands for water, food, or habitat. Yet a third of all wetlands have been destroyed. We are pioneers in saving threatened wetland wildlife, a centre for excellence in conservation science and experts in wetland management and creation." Slimbridge in winter is one of my very favourite places, I have taken part in a number of exhibitions with them over the last 10 years ...its always a pleasure to work with charities who do so much for wildlife.

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This beautiful tiny feather was left on the garden table... such a treasure 😊

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I have learned something new! How to create a free pdf download...if you would like this ebook, subscribe to my studio insights and an email with link will be sent to you... I find the more I know the more I have to learn... youtube tutorial are amazing! 😊

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Because I find it really difficult to keep my printmaking clean... I have a number of prints that I can crop down to make smaller pieces... so I gave been enjoying running a viewfinder over some of them to see what I can create... I hate wasting the lovely paper... so cropping may be the way forward 😊 who else has these challenges? #printmakingproblems

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#30daychallenge a painting and a charity each day. The @badgertrust who are celebrating that the full will NOT be rolled out in Derbyshire. This is more about them "The Badger Trust exists to promote and enhance the welfare, conservation and protection of badgers, their setts, and their habitats. We are the leading voice for badgers and represent and support around 60 local voluntary badger groups and thousands of supporters and followers. The Badger Trust provides expert advice on all badger issues and works closely with the government, police, and other conservation organisations. We use all lawful means to campaign for the improved protection of badgers and are a member of Partnership for Action Against Wildlife Crime (PAW) and Wildlife and Countryside Link. The biggest threats to modern badgers are road traffic accidents, government sanctioned culling, wildlife crimes, developments, and habitat loss. At the Badger Trust, we provide outreach and education opportunities to schools, training to police forces and local groups, government outreach, support to local groups, press coverage on local and national levels, and drive national level campaigns to educate the public on issues effecting badgers and their habitats" ​

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Today on my #30daychallege 1 painting and 1 charity a day, I am choosing the @nationaltrust particularly @ntglendurgannhelford where we sat in the company of a young Robin over lunch 😊 here is a part of their strategy 'We’ve launched an ambitious plan to nurse the natural environment back to health and reverse the alarming decline in wildlife. Our strategy for the next decade will also see us invest in looking after the nation’s heritage. Recognising threats to nature and heritage Climate change now poses the single biggest threat to the places we look after, bringing new, damaging threats to a natural environment already under pressure. It also poses a growing conservation challenge for the houses and gardens in our care. The countryside had been damaged by decades of unsustainable land management, which has seen intensive farming and now climate change undermine the long-term health of the land. Sixty per cent of species have declined in the UK over the last 50 years, habitats have been destroyed and over-worked soils have been washed out to sea. Protecting the natural environment We’ll develop new, innovative ways of managing land on a large scale, which are good for farmers, the economy and the environment. We’ll work with partners to help look after some of the country’s most important landscapes, reconnecting habitats and bringing back their natural beauty. The next decade will mark a new chapter in our history, which will see us increasingly join forces with other charities, government, business and local communities to improve the quality of the land and attract wildlife back to our fields, woods and river banks. Playing our part in mitigating climate change will also be a priority and we’ll cut our energy usage by 20 per cent by 2020 and source 50 per cent of that from renewable sources on our land. We’ll also explore what role we could play in helping to safeguard the future of public green spaces"

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Wanting to be back in my studio painting crows but life has taken over again for a while...all good though...

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Gannets drawing in wire😊

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This barn owl only exists as a card, it began life as 2 paintings which I digitally collated together, I think I will make it into a print too...

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#30daychallenge 1 painting and 1 charity a day, today the @rspb_love_nature "Reserves are at the heart of what we do. They're vital to our conservation work and priceless spaces for everyone to get close to nature. We believe they work best when they connect with wild spaces and habitats in the wider landscape. That's why we'll be working to make bigger, better, more joined " I will return to he rspb as their history is so fascinating. In Cornwall we are blessed with a number of wonderful reserves managed by the rspb

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#30daychallenge 1 painting and 1 charity a day today a Cuckoo the @btobirds have tracking information from birds making their journey south so maybe he has gone.. and this is what they say about themselves "the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) is a UK charity that focuses on understanding birds and, in particular, how and why bird populations are changing. Our vision is of a world where people are inspired by birds and informed by science. We strive to achieve this vision by harnessing the skills and passion of thousands of volunteers to advance our understanding of ornithology, in particular, through our bird surveys and schemes. We combine the resulting scientific outputs with interesting stories and powerful images to engage more people in this work and to inspire people to take action. Working in partnership with volunteers we have been monitoring the UK’s birds since 1933 and have extended our coverage to include other wildlife too."

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One of the other wonderful artists based in Cornwall making work for this project #Repost @bethgarnett_illustration • • • • • • NEWS. So I've been a bit quiet because I was invited to submit an image for the #red67 book which is soon to be published in support of the BTO and the RSPB. There are 67 artists creating images of the 67 birds on the UK red list. I have the honour of drawing humble tree sparrow, of which we lost 93% in 40 years. And this is my picture. As usual, I went in planning to make a nice, mature, respectable bit of work and ended up using all the colours and going a bit off track. Such is life. I am in hugely talented company including @thickets_studio @suzysharpeart And @wynonalegg so Red67 is promising to be a brilliant project for a great cause. I'll keep you posted. Now back to making bonkers brooches for the bazillion Christmas fairs I've booked myself onto because I have not one ounce of sense. @btobirds @rspb_love_nature #treesparrow #theredlist #birdart #conservation #ukwildlife #rspb_love_nature #birding #procreate #digitalpainting #drawing #illustrationartist

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Well I think a little wisdom is always good on a Wednesday so here is a Raven linocut with monoprint to take us wisely through the day 😊

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Diving crow in ink from my study sometime ago ...now one of my collection of cards

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Throughout September I am sharing 1 #30daychallenge painting and the work of 1 charity a day This from DAY 4 of the @thewildlifetrusts #30dayswild so today I have researched a little about them, in Cornwall they do an amazing job of caring some very special places locally... but this is what they say about themselves "Cornwall Wildlife Trust is one of 46 Wildlife Trusts working across the UK. With the invaluable support of our volunteers, members and corporate supporters we manage over 50 nature reserves, including an island for wildlife and people in Cornwall. We also work with other organisations and landowners to protect and connect wildlife sites across the county and inspire local communities and young people to care for wildlife where they live. We want to create safe havens in which wildlife can thrive and from which it can spread. We need to inspire people to love and care for the natural environment, and enable more people to experience, enjoy and understand it."

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This painting is from a previous #30daychallenge in 2015 and is now a greetings card ... I love to see cormorants and shags perched on the rocks stand for me as icons of our rugged but beautiful coastline in Cornwall

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#30daychallenge sharing one of my June daily paintings alongside researching a different charity each day. Today Compassion in World Farming:: founded in 1967 by Peter Roberts, a dairy farmer who could see first-hand how the demand for supposed cheap food was having a devastating effect on farm animals, the environment and humans. Since its beginnings, Compassion has been making a difference to the lives of billions of farm animals around the world. Factory farming is by far the biggest cause of animal cruelty on Earth. And we are dedicated to ending it. This Strategic Plan sets out our vision for you, outlining the global problems caused by intensive farming, as well as posing the more humane, sustainable solutions. We also explain what we will do, with your help, to achieve the biggest impact, and the greatest change for the largest number of animals, in order to bring about a better future for people too.

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Barn Owl with a patterned background ... painted sometime ago...now one of my collection of Barn Owl greetings cards link in my profile if you would like to see the rest.... . . . . . #card #greetingscard #birdartist #wildlifeartist #animalportrait #animalpainting #birdcreatives #animalart #birdillustration #wildlifeart #contemporaryartist #contemporary_art #acrylicpaintings #acrylicart #animalartwork #contemporarywildlifeart #acrylicartwork #birdart #birdpainting #barnowl #barnowlpainting

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As a family we are often given bones which is wonderful but I dont always know what they are. Can anyone help me identify this bird skull please... I think its a buzzard but not 100% certain?

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Happy September and what a lovely cornish morning it is. This painting is from my 30 day challenge in June, I love to do these 30 day challenges as a way of learning more about something or honing my skills in a particular area of my life. September has 30 days so what can I do? Well I thought I could re share these images and with each one mention a different animal or bird related charity,...so the first will have to be the Mousehole wildbird hospital this is what they say OUR AIMS The Hospital accepts any bird in need of care, land or sea, to heal and return them to the wild. If this not possible and they take kindly to captivity then they are given sanctuary for the rest of their lives. Those beyond help are painlessly destroyed. During each year approximately 1,500 birds are treated at the Hospital. Plus, on average 100 permanent residents. We have 4 full time members of staff caring for the birds 365 days of the year in the same tradition as Pog and Dorothy. We are open daily to visitors and admission is free although a donation, no matter how small, is always welcome. Without the help of a caring and sympathetic public we could not keep this open

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Phil and the little flock ❤

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I really enjoyed painting this one, I must paint a few more oystercatchers, they fascinate me, I love to hear their sharp call which is often all that alerts me to their presence 😊

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One more Rook greetings card... I am not very creative with titles so this is called Rook! 🤣🤣🤣

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Excited to be part of this #Repost @cornwall_crafts • • • • • • Our last Private View to be held at Trelowarren Gallery is on Saturday 7th September at 12.30 pm. It would be great to see lots of our friends and supporters on this occasion. Not only will there be delicious refreshments but the exhibition is going to be amazing.

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This is where I got to with my Barn Owl yesterday...still work to do...I do love painting them and thinking about all that they signify

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Not sure why Desmond prefers to be on the wall when he has fields full of grass... bless him! He is a law unto himself 🤣

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Drawn with ink a feather quill and fingers... time spent watching rooks, also now a greetings card 😊

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Magpie linocut... the magpies I have on my garden are chattering so I thought I would share this one 😊

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Staying with my ink drawings, I spent a while watching rooks, fascinated by them I made an installation of drawings, this is another of them, drawn with ink a feather quill and fingers... now a greetings card 😊 . . . . . . .

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Bird of the month August the Blackbird... you will all know this one. . The song by the Beetles Blackbird singing in the dead of night Take these broken wings and learn to fly All your life You were only waiting for this moment to arise Blackbird singing in the dead of night Take these sunken eyes and learn to see All your life You were only waiting for this moment to be free Blackbird fly, blackbird fly Into the light of a dark black night Blackbird fly, blackbird fly Into the light of a dark black night Blackbird singing in the dead of night Take these broken wings and learn to fly All your life You were only waiting for this moment to arise You were only waiting for this moment to arise You were only waiting for this moment to arise Songwriters: John Lennon / Paul McCartney f you would like to get the free ebook download, you can sign up to my studio insights (link in profile) and a link will be sent to you..

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I spent sometime watching rooks, fascinated by a the different expressive shapes they make with their bodies, I made an installation of drawings, this was one of them, all drawn in ink with a feather quill and fingers... now a card 😊 . . . . . . . #rook .#inkdrawing #crow #drawing #urbanbird #contemporaryart #wildlifeart #birdart #birdartist #wildbird #art #illustration #contemporarypainting #anthrozoology #humananimalrelationship #narrative #art #crowart #crowartist #ilovecrows #crowsofinstagram

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Just trying to hold on to the sun ... starlings across the sun linocut with monoprint... 😊. . . . . . . . #starlings #linocut #printmaking #monotype #reliefprinting #lino #urbanbird #contemporaryart #wildlifeart #birdart #birdartist #wildbird #art #illustration #sun #contemporaryprintmaking #humananimalrelationship #get_imprinted #ukprintmakers #narrative #art #citybird #urbanbird #anthrozoology

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Wonderful poem Thirteen blackbirds looking at a man R S Thomas I It is calm. It is as though we lived in a garden that had not yet arrived at the knowledge of good and evil. But there is a man in it. II There will be rain falling vertically from an indifferent sky. There will stare out from behind its bars the face of the man who is not enjoying it. III Nothing higher than a blackberry bush. As the sun comes up fresh, what is the darkness stretching from horizon to horizon? It is the shadow here of the forked man. IV We have eaten the blackberries and spat out the seeds, but they lie glittering like the eyes of a man. V After we have stopped singing, the garden is disturbed by echoes. It is the man whistling, expecting everything to come to him. VI We wipe our beaks on the branches wasting the dawn’s jewellery to get rid of the taste of a man. VII Nevertheless, which is not the case with a man, our bills give us no trouble. VIII Who said the number was unlucky? It was a man, who, trying to pass us, had his licence endorsed thirteen times. IX In the cool of the day the garden seems given over to blackbirds. Yet we know also that somewhere there is a man in hiding. X To us there are eggs and there are blackbirds. But there is the man, too, trying without feathers to incubate a solution. XI We spread our wings, reticulating our air space. A man stands under us and worries at his ability to do the same. XII When night comes like a visitor from outer space we stop our ears lest we should hear tell of the man in the moon. XIII Summer is at an end. The migrants depart. When they return in spring to the garden, will there be a man among them? . . . . .If you would like to get the free ebook download, you can sign up to my studio insights (link in profile) and a link will be sent to you... . .

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Ravens behind my studio calling all day today ...not finished with this chap yet but wanted to celebrate their presence 😍

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Slightly grumpy wire drawing of a badger popped up in my studio today ... so I though I would share it...😊

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I have achieved a goal today..I .finally put some of my printmaking on my website 😊

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Cormorants on my mind... after seeing so many at Lizard point yesterday, this one is from a while ago and a bit different as its in collage, it is a greetings card now 😊

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I am not sure if I posted this, there is always an interesting commentary on tweet of the day, these 2 snippets from Chris Packham and Bill Oddie. . If you would like to get the free ebook download, you can sign up to my studio insights (link in profile) and a link will be sent to you... . . .

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I walked across a field tonight in the dark, with a good bright torch it was full of moths (and other unknown insects ) a bat and most wonderful the sound of a tawny owl ❤

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Thinking of the many cormorants at Lizard point today

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