Wild West Yorkshire

Recent pages from Richard Bell’s award-winning nature diary, now in its tenth year

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My latest book:

“a book encouraging others to look and draw; with much good advice about methods and materials, and how to keep a sketch-book nature diary”

John Busby, RSA RSW SWLA

“both useful and a visual pleasure in itself.”

Janis Goodman

See more of my books at Willow Island Editions

Drawing on Reserves; review by John Busby

In my childhood I was first drawn to nature by ‘Romany’ on Childrens’ Hour - sound pictures only - before television - but they conjured up strong visual images in my mind’s eye. Children begin to make pictures mostly from imagination, then gradually their eyes become more curious about the real world. The act of drawing makes us all look more closely, and as we draw, the marks on the page take on a life of their own - they recall moments, feelings and discoveries, and open our eyes to see more and more.

Richard is an explorer, another Nomad. His first book; Richard Bell’s Britain touched on many unfamiliar parts of the British Isles. More recent books narrow the field, from the High Peak of Derbyshire, down to a rough patch of garden; always finding fascinating detail to delight in. The latest booklet, Drawing on Reserves, recalls days at Fairburn Ings; RSPB & Yorkshire Wildlife Trust reserves; Skokholm Island; Texas, and London’s Regent Canal, and it is a book encouraging others to look and draw; with much good advice about methods and materials, and how to keep a sketch-book nature diary.

Drawing uses energy and experience: vital reserves that we draw on in all creative looking.

John Busby is a founder member of the Society of Wildlife Artists

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September 2008: I've almost got the mailing list in perfect working order and I'm back to weekly updates. My apologies if you were formerly on the list and you are no longer receiving updates; some spam-filters, for instance those associated with Yahoo, don't seem to like my e-mail address.

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