Reporting back from Massingham Heath
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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:
- Creative Peninsula Artists in the Coffee Cure cafe at North Down Museum until Sunday 21 September
- “(Un)Bound” the August craft month at Craft NI until 30 sept
- The Exhibition Wildlife Art online gallery will remain live until July 2026
Reporting back from Massingham Heath Read More »