Carry Akroyd – illustratör

SHORTLISTED FOR THE WAINWRIGHT PRIZE FOR ILLUSTRATIVE BOOKSSwoop Sing Perch Paddle brings together 132 screenprints by renowned wildlife artist Carry Akroyd, celebrating British birds in all their colour and charm.Originally created for The Oldie’s Bird of the Month column, Carry’s vibrant prints transport us through the seasons and across the country, from coast to coast and through forests, fields, back gardens and town centres.As a self-described ‘bird-noticer’, Carry’s work reveals her keen observation of birds and their behaviour and her lifelong love of the landscapes they frequent. From a party of gregarious, seed-eating siskins to the poised peregrine perched high on a cathedral, each of her artworks is packed with personality.Carry’s joyful prints are accompanied by succinct, entertaining texts from John McEwen, her long-time Bird of the Month collaborator and co-author of A Sparrow’s Life’s as Sweet as Ours, and their beautiful new collection is a delight for birdwatchers and art lovers alike.

A Sparrow’s Life’s as Sweet as Ours is a collection based on the Bird of the Month column in The Oldie, which is written by an instigator of the magazine, John McEwen and illustrated by renowned wildlife artist Carry Akroyd.In this beautiful new book, painter and printmaker Carry Akroyd presents a sequence of her small screenprints, full of variety and colour, that illustrate British birds in all four seasons of the year. These stunning prints give full rein to her extensive knowledge of the British landscape, and what shines out of these dynamic designs is Carry’s deft capturing of each bird’s characteristics set beautifully in relation to its habitat. Her consideration of each species combines accuracy with elegant simplicity.John McEwen’s accompanying text is written with charm and concision, and his original columns have been updated for this new collection. John’s light, eclectic approach connects snippets of ornithology, history, etymology and cookery, all expressed with wit and knowledge. His writing is spiced with poetry – from Chaucer to the present – as well as facts and stories, while personal and other anecdotes are included to inform and, above all, entertain.