Colin See-Paynton – Wood Engraving

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’.

The Jardine Gallery had the pleasure of holding an exhibition of the entire “Of a Feather” show several years ago which proved very popular. A selection of Colin See-Payntons engravings are still currently exhibited at the gallery.

Fulfilling a personal dream

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.

About Colin See-Paynton

Colin See Paynton has won numerous awards for his artwork. He is considered to be one of the finest wood engravers of his lifetime and his work is held in numerous public museums and galleries. Colin has produced numerous books of his engravings and his work has been widely published in other publications. He was made an Honorary Fellow Royal Society of Painter-Printmakers  in 2004