Birdsong and Brushstrokes: Meet Diane, Watchtree’s Wildlife Artist

To continue our theme of #ArtatWatchtree we have an incredible new artist to introduce you to.

“My name is Diane, I am a retired secondary school Art Teacher and a volunteer at Watchtree Nature Reserve, a place very special to me.I am part of a team which keeps the birdfeed feeders topped up and cleaned, as well as keeping an eye on the health of the birdlife and informal recordings of sightings. If you have visited the bird hide in Pond Wood , you will have seen my paintings of the most frequently observed birds.

Watchtree is the perfect place for me as a 2D visual artist because it allows me to “watch ” the wildlife and experience the changing of the Seasons ,responding to shape, pattern and colour. I keep a sketchbook to record what I see, using pencil, pen and ink ,working quickly to get an impression of what I find interesting. I then develop the sketches into simplified lino Print designs and more illustrative drawings, often using a mixture of Sepia ink, Watercolour and acrylic paint.”

Diane’s work beautifully captures the essence of Watchtree—its tranquillity, its wildlife, and the ever-changing natural rhythms that make the reserve so magical. Her unique blend of observational sketches and expressive printmaking brings a new depth to our #ArtatWatchtree series, celebrating not just the beauty of birds, but the joy of watching and connecting with nature. We’re honoured to have her share her talent and passion with us, and we hope her work inspires you to slow down, take notice, and maybe even pick up a pencil yourself on your next visit to Watchtree.