by Richard Allen
Coming originally from land-locked Berkshire I never tire of walking along the Colne estuary and observing the ever changing scene of birds, tides and weather. There is always something of interest going on, birds come and go with the seasons, the Godwits that winter here head off to Iceland to nest just as the terns return from Africa for the summer. As I write this the first Brent Geese of autumn are arriving after a long flight from the Arctic tundra. The estuary is filling up with Teal and Wigeon, while the last few Swallows of summer flit south over the saltmarsh.
This new “Coastal Birds” is a collection of linocuts inspired by both the birds that haunt my local estuary and some from my travels further afield. I am particularly drawn to boldly marked birds such as Lapwings, Shelduck and Avocets and the patterns found in the mud, creeks and water they inhabit.
We are lucky in this country to have a rich and varied coast and I have been fortunate to visit some of our rugged western shorelines. These trips have given me the opportunity to watch and sketch some special birds, and so Eiders, Puffins and Eagles now appear in this collection.
Richard Allen
“It begins with a cover designed in a style of a different age, reminiscent of childhood Ladybird Books. The nostalgic theme continues through pages full of splendid linocut images and words inspired by the birds watched and sketched along the Colne Estuary in Essex.
Richard Allen has clearly had a vision about the layout of Coastal Birds. The temptation may have been to make it a larger-sized book with colour added here and there. But the small format, 12 x 12cm, with black printing on ivory-coloured pages, creates an impact and cosy appeal that would certainly be lost on anything grander. I like it.”
Dan Powell, British Birds 2015
Jardine Press 2024.
Extended second edition
120 x 120mm, 60pp
Hardback: £15.00
ISBN 978-1-8382272-5-8
£15 [buy]
jardinepress.co.uk 