A FASCINATING selection of exquisite anatomical drawings showing birds in action are coming to Nature in Art this April. The drawings are from the bestselling book by artist and ornithologist, Katrina van Grouw.

Katrina, formerly Katrina Cook, has work in the Nature in Art collection and has been a self-employed fine artist since graduating from the Royal College of Art in 1992 where she gained an MA in Natural History Illustration. Although she has had no formal scientific training, Katrina’s ornithological knowledge, including skills as a specimen preparator and taxidermist, gained her a curatorial position in the bird skin collections at London’s Natural History Museum, based at Tring in Hertfordshire. She remained there for seven years before leaving in 2010 to concentrate on completing ‘The Unfeathered Bird’.

A quarter of a century in the making, the book is a landmark in popular ornithological literature. It was originally intended as an aid for wildlife artists, and deals with the way birds are structurally adapted to their behaviour and lifestyle; how they have evolved to fit a multitude of niches. The images shown in the exhibition are from the 385 illustrations, covering 200 species. All were drawn from real skeletons, many of which were prepared and assembled specifically for the book at the author’s own home, from specimens donated by zoos and wildlife charities. (No birds were harmed during the making of the book!). This is a must-see for anyone interested in art, science or both.

Katrina is also going to be artist in residence during the first week of the exhibition, from March 31 to April 5.

The Unfeathered bird is on display at Nature in Art, Wallsworth Hall, Twigworth Tuesday -Sunday and Bank holidays, 10am-5pm. Admission charges apply. Visit www.nature-in-art.org.uk for more details.