Society of Wildlife Artists

All the Christmas Doings

/ craft fairs, Creative Peninsula, Creative Peninsula, Events, Exhibitions, Late Night Art Bangor, News, Society of Wildlife Artists

In October, the new Bingham Lane Festival took place in Bangor . The festival was a great success an I hope it will become an annual event. Now we have turned our attention to Christmas!

Shortly after Bingham, I travelled to London to attend the opening of the Society of Wildlife Artists annual exhibition, “The Natural Eye”. The very popular ‘Out of the Frame’ room was dedicated to work produced so far for the Massingham Heath Project,

Although the exhibition is now finished, you can still browse the work on line on the Mall Galleries website:

https://www.mallgalleries.org.uk/exhibitions-events/society-wildlife-artists-natural-eye-2025

Artists in the Natural World

13 November – 13 January Stapleford Granary, Cambridge

Some of the work from the Natural Eye, including my unsold pieces, has now travelled to Cambridge as part of another exhibition. Naturally, I jumped at the chance to be included!

See the Stapleford Granary Website

Royal Ulster Academy Annual Exhibition

19 October 25 – until 4 January 26 


I am happy so say that, for the first time in many years,  I have had a piece accepted into this year’s exhibition. I am even happier to report that it has sold! The Show is now open to the public in the Ulster Museum in Belfast, and runs until 4 January, so plenty of time to get to see it.

See more on the RUA website

I have one more trip away planned to Thought Bubble comic convention in Harrogate. It will be a chance to immerse myself in all things comic book, and add a few new items to my small, but growing graphic story collection!

Bobs Favourite time of year

Once I get back from Harrogate, it will be all go for the Christmas craft fairs! Bob’s favourite time of year!

Here is a run down of where you can find me or my work over the next few weeks:

Craft NI at Knit and Stitch

The Eikon Exhibition Centre

13th – 16th November 2025.

My work will be featured on the Craft NI stand at the Knit and Stitch show along with many other makers from the Gallery. You can find us all on stand E96!

Book Tickets

Made in AND Pop up Christmas Shop

Thursday 20 Nov – Sunday 4 Jan

I’ll be taking part in the Made in AND Pop-up Christmas Shop again this year. 20 talented local artists and crafters will be featured.

While you’re there, warm up with a festive drink or seasonal treat from the museum café – the perfect way to complete your visit!

The shop is free to visit during our normal opening hours:

Tuesdays – Saturdays 10am – 4pm Sundays 12noon – 4pm

Twililght Shopping Event

On Thursday 27 November, join us at North Down Museum for our Twilight Christmas Shopping event. Enjoy live music and craft demonstrations while you browse the Pop Up Christmas Shop. While you are in town, why not explore all the venues open for Late Night art!

Thursday 27 November

6pm – 9pm. Admission is free.

Find Out More

Last Late Night Art of the Year

Thursday 27 November
6-9pm

Late Night Art will be taking a break in December, so November will be the last one for 2025! We are hoping to make it a good one with a studio sale in Boom, and lots of other activities around the town.

Come and visit your local creatives in their natural habitat!

Find out More

North Down Craft Collective Christmas Art and Craft Market

Sunday 30th November, 10.00am – 4.00pm

We will be back at WWT Castle Espie this festive season!

The 2025 North Down Craft Collective Christmas Fair will take place on Sunday 30th November in the visitor centre from 10.00am – 4.00pm. Over 30 artists and makers will be showcasing their work making your Christmas gift buying a pleasure this year!

Enjoy festive music, treats from the Kingfisher Cafe and your chance to meet the makers.

Admission to the fair is free of charge (normal charges apply to visit the wetland area)

Find out More

HARK

St Anne’s Cathedral, Belfast Thursday 5th December at 7.30pm

Join us in an atmospheric night in St Anne’s Cathedral with live music, food  and lots of beautiful gifts from local artists and crafts people.

This is a new fair for me so I am looking forward to exhibiting in an extra special christmas atmosphere.

Book Tickets
A grey square with white , red and gold christmas presents advertising the Creative Peninsula Christmas Fayre

Creative Peninsula Christmas Fayre

Late Night Shopping: Fri 5 Dec | 4pm – 8pm Small Business Saturday: Sat 6 Dec | 10am – 4pm

You can find my work at the Creative Peninsula Christmas Art and Craft Fayre, at Ards Arts Centre, Newtownards!

This unique Christmas Fayre features some of the fantastic artists and makers of the Creative Peninsula, with a variety of gift options to inspire you to help you find that perfect gift!

There will also be live seasonal music from local musicians, as well as complementary festive refreshments and gift wrapping!

Support local and handmade this Christmas, and we look forward to welcoming you there!

Find out more

All the Christmas Doings Read More »

Reporting back from Massingham Heath

/ Drawing, Exhibitions, Late Night Art Bangor, News, Projects, Society of Wildlife Artists, SWLA Projects, Workshops

I am just back from a marvellous trip to Massingham Heath wilderness in Norfolk. I was taking part in a year long project by the Society of Wildlife Artists to document and celebrate the biodiversity of the heath through art.

The estate is owned and run by Olly Birbeck who has been restoring over 1000 acres of heath since 2017. I can report it is teeming with wildflowers and invertebrates which in turn are supporting an array birdlife from stonechats and skylarks to green woodpecker, hobby, goshawk and kestrel. It was also very hot and quite challenging conditions for creating work!

As well as restoring the heath, Olly is using regenerative farming practices and collaborating with surrounding landowners to create wildlife corridors at landscape scale. Olly is well worth a follow on instagram – check him out @massingham_heath.

Olly was more than generous in allowing us access, not only to the whole estate, but also the use of his very luxurious glamping tents and kitchen facilities. Tim Baldwin and a wonderful team of local volunteers kept us well fed and watered, solved problem with showers and generators and identified plants and insects for us.

A good friend in Norwich also went above and beyond, taking in parcels of art equipment and driving me all over the county!

One of the most valuable aspects of residencies like this is meeting other artists. I was working alongside fellow artists Liz Myhill, Ben Woodhams, Paul Henery, Nye Hughes, Lisa Hooper, Laura Andrew, Julia Manning, and Dafila Scott. During the week we were also joined by Amie Haslan, Chris Wallbank, Wynona Legg, Carry Ackroyd, Bruce Pearson, and SWLA president, Harriet Mead. We engaged with the local community, with an exhibition, moth trapping, pond dipping a meadow safari, and an art trail on the heath.

It was also lovely to meet Norfolk naturalist and writer Nick Acheson, who will be supplying text for the publication that will be the final result of the Massingham project. An enormous and hugely varied amount of work has been produced already, some of which will be showcased in the out of the frame room in London this October.

More about the Heath
More about the SWLA Project

Now I am back home, here are afew things coming up soon, starting with the opening of the Ulster Watercolour Society annual exhibition

Ulster Watercolour Society 48th Annual Exhibition

29 August – 14 September 2025.

This year’s exhibition will be the largest ever in the history of the society and we have a full program of events during the two week run. The exhibition and all events are free for the public to attend. 

Why not join us at the official opening on 29 August at 7pm The exhibition will be opened by the Lord Mayor of Belfast, Councillor Tracy Kelly.

There will be free live watercolour demonstrations almost daily where you can watch a painting being created from start to finish or come along to an artist’s studio session to watch them at work. I will be doing mine on 10 September at 2pm.

See all the events

Workshops move to Haptik

September 9th 10:00 am – 12:00 pm

Although the Craft Room is now closed, the popular series of workshops are continuing. We are relocating just a few doors up to the lovely Haptik coffee shop in NewtownardsFor my first one in the new venue, we are going to celebrate two of our tiniest birds, goldcrest and wren.

All materials will be supplied and refreshments are included. The workshop area at Haptik is located on the first floor accessed via a short flight of stairs.

Book A place

Boom studios Sketchbook library

Some of us have been beavering away in our sketch books since April for this. I have managed to fill 2 small sketchbooks to contribute. The Sketchbooks will available to view be in the gallery space in Boom 1 from 19 September until 6 October. There will be a small exhibition of wall art to compliment the library.

Look out for our celebration night for Late Night Art in September! (Thursday 25th!)

19th September – 6th October 2025

• Monday – Thursday: 10am – 2pm

• Saturday: 10am – 4pm

• Or by arrangement

Celebration Event Thursday 25th September 2025 6.30pm Late Night Art, Bangor. 

Check out the Boom Studios website

Royal Ulster Academy Annual Exhibition

I am happy so say that, for the first time in many years,  I have had a piece accepted into this year’s exhibition which will be held, as usual, in the Ulster Museum in Belfast

I will post again with more information nearer the time, but, for now, the exhibition dates are:

19 October 25 – until 4 January 26 

RUA Website

Still Ongoing from my last Post!

Meanwhile, here is a recap of some exhibitions I told you about last time, that you still have time to catch:

Reporting back from Massingham Heath Read More »