THIS August, Nature in Art is hosting a special selection of retrospective and recent work by one of the twentieth century’s most influential nature-inspired artists, John Busby.

John Busby was a founding member of the Society of Wildlife Artists (1960), was involved with the Artists for Nature Foundation since its inception in 1991 and was elected Master wildlife artist in the USA (2009).

John previously said ‘My work is rooted in landscape …. and in the living birds and animals as they are part of it. I aim to show how creatures move and have their being and to express the visual delight they bring. I work from life’.

This exhibition has a theme, ‘patterns in nature’, embracing as it does oil paintings of rock studied through a microscope, to rock pools on the sea shore, to landscapes and ‘birds-eye’ views looking down from above and, of course, drawings of birds and animals. All demonstrated John's desire to, as he once said, ‘combine accuracy with artistry’.

John worked in traditional media: watercolours, pastels on paper and oil on canvas. In the field he first used a sketchbook, adding watercolour if time and location allowed. He liked to stay with a subject watching all aspects of behaviour and interaction, waiting to see what happens. In the studio he would then develop the gathered material into the final works.

John sadly died a few months ago, so this exhibition in celebration of his life's work, showcasing mainly finished works, but some sketches are also included. It offers a rare opportunity to see a wonderful selection of work by an artist who was and still is highly regarded in both the wildlife art and wider art worlds.

The exhibition takes place at Nature in Art, Wallsworth Hall, Twigworth. Admission charges apply, please visit www.nature-in-art.co.uk for details.