The Society of Wildlife Artists

Following on from the success of the May artists’ residency on Massingham Heath a group of ​“newbies” again descended on the estate for a week of sketching and celebration in mid-August (11th ‑18th). This time four of us made the trip from Scotland (myself, Liz Myhill, Paul Henery and Nye Hughes), one from Northern Ireland (Adele Pound), one from Denmark (Ben Woodhams) and one from Somerset (Julia Manning). Later in the week we were joined by Laura Andrew from nearby Lincolnshire. Those of us from cooler climes were ill-prepared for the sweltering heat on the almost completely shadeless Heath but it did mean that insect life was very evident (if somewhat lively!) and at least we never had to deal with wind or rain.

Although a lot of the early summer colour was waning, the spectacular mulleins were still in flower (providing challenging foreground material!) along with a mass of small scabious, hardheads, burnet saxifrage, bird’s‑foot trefoil and wild carrot. Brown argus butterflies were on the wing and I was lucky enough to spot a clouded yellow. Long-winged coneheads, Roesel’s bush-cricket and an abundance of shield bugs satisfied the insect lovers. Birdlife was rather quiet owing to the time of year but hobbies, goshawks and red kites were there for those looking skyward. The chalk pit, pond, Scots pines and rare breed livestock increased the range of potential subjects.

As before, the experience was made possible and comfortable by the kind hospitality extended by owner Olly Birkbeck and the organisational (and presumably persuasive!) powers of our very own Tim Baldwin and his band of tireless and generous local helpers.

We were joined over the weekend by some of the artists from the May residency and some who are able to visit regularly including Carry Akroyd, Bruce Pearson, Wynona Legg, Amie Haslen, Chris Wallbank, Dafila Scott and Matt Underwood. Harriet was on hand throughout the week and kept our focus on the book which will ultimately promote the Heath Project and our responses to it. Nick Acheson, writer and naturalist who is writing the text, was also able to join us for a few days to speak to the artists on site and help with the public events.

The weekend was a chance to bring the village in to see what we’d been doing and why the regenerative farming that’s happening through the Great Massingham Heath Project is so exciting and important for biodiversity beyond its immediate boundaries.

Over the weekend our collected sketches were displayed in the Village Hall, (with some additional finished pieces from the first residency), again supported by volunteers who provided a seemingly endless supply of cake. On the Saturday we ran a mothing event (with drawing materials and artists on hand to encourage youngsters to get involved) and similar morning and afternoon events in two different habitats; one exploring pond life in one of Great Massingham’s seven(!) ponds and one in a regenerated meadow adjacent to housing on the edge of the village with an impressive fauna and flora. All were enthusiastically received and well attended by adults and children alike.

The next day, Chris Wallbank ran a drawing workshop on the Village Green which was followed by an Artist’s Trail on the Heath: an invitation to the public to take a short circular walk around part of the Heath along which we artists were dotted, working and talking about what we were doing and why. A literal open studio.

There was such a steady stream of genuinely engaged visitors that we finished about an hour later than planned.

For me it was a fabulous though challenging week filled with new experiences, new friends and fresh inspiration. Keeping that buzz going and channeling that energy into new and finished work is my current focus. I’m so glad to have had this opportunity and grateful to everyone, including my fellow artists, who made it so enjoyable. 

Lisa Hooper