Liam’s brush with nature is on show
AVALLEY artist whose love of wildlife was re-awakened by lockdown is taking part in a springtime art exhibition, celebrating the beauty of our native birds.
‘Fledge’ was inspired by last spring when many of us sort solace in nature as birdsong replaced the usual hum of traffic.
Five artists have delivered a collection of drawings and paintings capturing the birds to be found in our gardens, moorland, fields, and coastline. There will also be poems, prints and even sculpture.
Liam Spencer, is already well known for his urban landscapes, snaring the soul of Manchester and Salford streets with dazzling vivid panoramas of rain, neon lights, sunshine, and pubs.
But three years ago he did a series of ink paintings of birds at the Whitaker Museum and Art Gallery in Rawtenstall.
Liam said: “Like a lot of people, I spent more time observing nature during the first lockdown and began to paint birds again. Mostly watercolours and a few oils. I have an old friend from art school days, Sue Platt, who began to paint beautiful watercolours of birds whilst recovering from cancer a few years ago.
“I’m hoping it will be a real life-affirming show, and hopefully a nice way to mark us emerging from the pandemic.”
Liam grew up in Burnley and from his youth remembers only sparrows and starlings.
His interest in birds grew when he moved to Rossendale and saw a kingfisher in an urban stretch of the infant River Irwell.
He now lives in a former hill farm and regularly sees lapwings and curlews.
He added: “I think lots of people discovered bird watching during the lockdown, so I’m hoping it will have a broad appeal.
“Thankfully it looks like we’ll be able to invite people back to the gallery by then.
“I love seeing birds and like to be able to identify them if I can, but I don’t really think of myself as a bird watcher. Most of the ones I see I do while fishing, and mountain biking in the Pennine hills. I particularly enjoy the simplicity of working in ink and watercolour.”
» ‘Fledge; A Year of Birds’ opens on May 1 at Contemporary Six on Princess Street, Manchester.