Take a 'beak' at stunning new bird art exhibition in Grantown
An acclaimed wildlife artist is the guest artist-in-residence at the Spey Bank Studio in Grantown this month.
Esther Tyson, a graduate of both the University of Wales and the Royal College of Art, is a painter, printmaker and bookbinder.
Working primarily with oils, she is particularly known for her paintings of birds.
Now based in Derbyshire, she has travelled all over the world working on projects with a range of organisations including Birdlife International and the British Trust for Ornithology.
She has observed vultures in Nepal, migrating birds in Senegal and even sparrows on a local Derbyshire farm.
Based at the Spey Bank Studio, Tyson will use the artistic space to produce new bird paintings from her observations in the Cairngorms.
She has already been out in the field, watching snow buntings at Cairngorm Mountain’s car park.
Spey Bank Studio owner Angus Grant said: “I’ve admired Esther’s work for some time. It has an artful simplicity that only comes with years of practice.
“Her bird paintings are beautiful and it is easy to see why they are so popular.”
Tyson said: “I’ve been visiting the Cairngorms and Speyside from the age of six and this place is home from home without question.
Returning to the mountains brings great inspiration, the landscape around me, the colour and the creatures that live here all have their place in my work and my heart.”
Tyson will give a talk about her work tomorrow (Thursday) at the studio from 10.30am to noon.
• The studio is currently open on Thursdays 10am-2pm, and on Fridays 10am-5pm. Anyone wishing to visit out with these times should contact angus@speybankstudio.co.uk to arrange an appointment.
