News

Will Coxhead paintings exhibition

[for press inquiries: pr@bna-naturalists.org]

SIR DAVID ATTENBOROUGH WAS PRESENTED WITH THE PETER SCOTT MEMORIAL AWARD and made a Fellow Honoris Causa of the British Naturalists’ Association at the Annual Conference 2007 on 19th May. The BNA’s highest award, the Peter Scott Memorial Award was given in recognition of his outstanding and unique contribution to our understanding of natural history.

Programme of the day
Photo Gallery

Sir David attenborough addresses the BNA Conference

Launch of British Naturalists' Association's newest book 'HOW TO BEGIN THE STUDY OF MOSSES AND LIVERWORTS' by Professor David Bellamy and its author Dr June Chatfield at the BNA's Conference in Epping Forest on 10th May 2008. Professor Bellamy wrote the foreword in which he revealed how central to his life has been the fascination with bryophytes. 60 pages full of colour photographs and helpful line drawings, photographs (including invaluable micro photographs) by Christine Riesner, Chris Doncaster, Michael Demidecki and Dr Chatfield.

BNA's RECENT BOOK 'How to begin the study of Natural History', by Dr June Chatfield was launched at Haslemere Museum on 4th May 2007, by BNA President David Bellamy.

PROFESSOR DAVID BELLAMY MADE HONORARY FELLOW of BNA On 25th November 2006 at Northampton University, Professor David Bellamy was bestowed with the Fellowship (Honoris Causa) of The British Naturalists’ Association by the Chairman Roger Tabor. [Click for more on BNA Fellowship (Honoris Causa)]

GRADES Members of BNA have the opportunity to add Grade Recognition to their membership which will acknowledge their natural history skills and achievements. This will demonstrate to others that you believe in furthering the study of natural history and in acquiring the necessary field skills to achieve this. An application form is available here to apply for recognition as an Associate (ABNA), Registered Member (MBNA) or Fellow (FBNA) of the British Naturalists' Association. Grade Guidance Notes are also available here. Application for the higher grades requires the support of appropriate natural history referees.

Grade Guidance Notes
Grade Application Form
Official dress

The Botanical Art of Will Coxhead, British Naturalist
– A touring exhibition for everyone interested in natural history

Will Coxhead
Will Coxhead (1884-1962) was a dedicated naturalist and prolific botanical artist, and made painting British plants his life’s work.

His original illustrations were destroyed by a bomb in the second World War, but, undaunted, he resolved to start again and, as an active member of the Kent branch of the British Naturalists’ Association (BNA), sought the BNA’s help. He placed an advertisement in BNA’s magazine Country-Side, and Alan Major and Joan Nisbet, who later became his wife, answered his call. Will provided Alan and Joan with two collecting tins each, and with their help he succeeded in producing a second collection of over 1000 watercolour paintings over the next twenty years. These provide an impressive and systematic record of the plants of the British countryside at the time.

ABOVE: Water Mint: drawn by Will Coxhead © Liz Artindale/BNA

The Coxhead Bequest
After Joan died in April 2000, Will’s collection was given to the BNA by their nephew Derek W. Everard and Joan’s relation Mary Boyton. The BNA has exhibited selected illustrations from the collection at its annual conferences, and most recently from May-July 2005 at the Braintree District Museum as part of the BNA’s “Nature over Time” centenary celebrations, where the exhibition became a starting point for many additional projects.

Exhibition description
The illustrations and the story of Will Coxhead attract both committed naturalists and a wider non-specialist audience. The exhibition will appeal to school parties as well, and can be used to provide the basis for educational natural history workshops and field trips.

The exhibition comprises 120 illustrations, selected to show the breadth and quality of his work. These were painted from specimens found in named locations across Britain (e.g. in Devon, Kent, Cumbria) between 1940 and 1958. Supporting botanical descriptions and historical material about Will Coxhead and the BNA are also provided.

The illustrations have been attractively framed for exhibition in sets of four (see photo). The frames are hardwood backed, glass fronted, with mirror plates for wall mounting, and measure approx. 24” x 30” each. The full set of 30 framed illustrations requires between 18-45 metres (36-90 square metres) for mounting. Display cases (2-4 square metres) are required for the supporting historical material. The display size and selection of material can be varied to suit the venue.

Artwork as framed for exhibition- photo © BNA and Michael Demidecki

Terms and conditions
The exhibition is available for hire across the UK. All proceeds will be treated as donations to the BNA.

All transport to/from the BNA (in Corby) and insurance is the responsibility of the hirer. Security requirements for hire locations are that the exhibition is regularly checked during opening hours and that the premises are secure overnight.

Contact
For details of hire fees, more information about the exhibition, and to discuss its availability, please contact:

Email marketing@bna-naturalists.org

John Curwen: tel. 01707 261303
email treasurer@bna-naturalists.org