Scotts incredible powers of observation revealed in Travel Diaries of a Naturalist exhibition at WWT Slimbridge
Illustrations from Sir Peter Scotts extraordinary travel diaries have gone on display at WWT Slimbridge Wetland Centre.
Sir Peter, who founded the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust, travelled the world and always kept recordings of the wildlife he saw in notes and beautiful illustrations.
Now some of the limited edition prints – many signed by Sir Peter - are on display in the exhibition until January 12.
The travel diaries were started in 1956 and at the time of Sir Peter’s death in 1989 there were over 50 in number. They were neatly stored in a bookcase at the back of his studio at Slimbridge.
Extracts from these diaries were published in three volumes ‘Travel Diaries of a Naturalist’, Volumes 1, 2 and 3 were published by Collins in 1983, 1985 and 1987.
During production, a number of the illustrations were left over. Sir Peter decided they would make nice images for framing and display.
Beverley Hardman, Visitor Services Manager, said: “It is a real thrill to have the exhibition here. We might never have the opportunity to have a collection of this kind on display again. Visitors are really enjoying seeing his work, the mediums he worked in are very varied he used whatever came to hand when he was out in the field.”
The pieces which are from a private collection are for sale for between £100 to £300. Entry to the gallery is included in the cost of entry to WWT Slimbridge.
For more information see wwt.org.uk/slimbridge
