Colin See-Paynton RCA RE SWE : Of a Feather

The exhibition was launched at The National Library of Wales in 2007 as part of its centenary celebrations since when it has been touring the United Kingdom. The project has taken Colin nearly four years to complete and is probably unique in showing exclusively an entire ensemble of newly created wood engravings. The sixty-one wood engravings that make up the s eries take us through the alphabet – ‘Abandonment of Cuckoos’, ‘Gaggle of Geese’, Tiding of Magpies’, ‘Zephyr of Long-tailed Titmice – these are just some of the titles that make up the complete and wonderfully poetic alphabet of collective nouns that together with Colin See-Paynton’s text was first published as the book Of a Feather by the Gregynog Press in 2008 and is now published in 2010 as a new limited edition by Stingwern Books.

Sir David Attenborough, who has written the foreword to the book writes, ‘Colin See-Paynton has introduced yet another vision to the rich tradition of wood engraving. His delight in the lines of a bird so elegantly inscribed by the cut of his graver, his skill in varying texture even though he only has black and white with which to do so, his palpable pleasure in composing his subjects into joyous designs have brought something new to the portrayal of birds. It is a true privilege to provide these few words to introduce them’.

It had been a cherished and enduring dream of Colin’s that he might one day have the wherewithal and the time to produce a thematic series of prints, a body of fresh new engravings which he could steadily assemble and eventually publish in totum preferably in the form of a beautifully made book. His aim was also to create images that would be strong enough to justify their presentation in an exhibition. This is that exhibition, ‘Of a Feather’ and it represents the realisation of that long held dream.

Pictured above left : "Of a feather" limited edition of 750 collectors book and slip case. Beautifully published on 150gsm paper, containing all the images from the exhibition, signed and numbered by Colin See-Paynton. Price £195 above right: "Of a feather" exhibition catalogue. A soft cover guide to the exhibition which includes images of each print, Price £15

Colin See-Paynton is a Fellow of the Royal Cambrian Academy, Honorary Fellow of the Royal Society of Painter-Printmakers and a member of the Society of Wood Engravers. He is widely regarded as the leading exponent of wood engraving in the United Kingdom and his work is represented in many private and public collections around the world including the V & A, Ashmolean Museum, Berlin Graphothek, Fremantle Museum & Art Gallery, Australia, Gaudi Salon, Barcelona, National Library of Wales, National Museum of Wales and the Yosemite Wildlife Museum, California. He has travelled with the Artists for Nature Foundation to the Pyrenees and to Alaska to record and highlight through his art the threat to wildlife caused by man’s exploitation of the natural resources of these areas.

The touring show has now headed on to its next destination, I have kept a few framed prints at the gallery, copies of the catalogue and a pair of copies of the limited edition books. I am happy to order in any prints that are no longer in stock, expected delivery time is about 10-14 days.

 

Click on the thumbnails to view the gallery images. Once you are viewing an image,
you can click on the right or left of the image to move through the slideshow.

Click on the thumbnails to view the gallery images. Once you are viewing an image,
you can click on the right or left of the image to move through the slideshow.