The Lady Lever Art Gallery will present an exclusive range of artwork by Jim Moir in a new exhibition, Dawn to Dusk: Birds by Jim Moir,
Known to millions by his stage name Vic Reeves, the artist is known for his exquisite paintings of British birds. Around 45 will be on display with some of the paintings created exclusively for the exhibition.
This will be the first time that the artist’s paintings are displayed in a national gallery, with most works available for purchase.
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Although most will know Jim for his comedy, he has produced art all his life, admitting: “All I ever did as a child was paint.” He was immersed in the art world as a child, regularly attending craft fairs and galleries with his parents.
He achieved his first taste of success at the age of ten, winning a competition on a cornflakes box by painting a combine harvester. He went on to study at art school.
After his father gifted him a set of very heavy binoculars from the Second World War, he became more interested in watching the birds from afar.
Jim said: “It’s an honour to be exhibiting at Lady Lever; a truly unique gallery that’s brimming with masterpieces. The process of working with the team at National Museums Liverpool has been a greatly enjoyable one and I’m very much looking forward to sharing the finished exhibition with visitors.”
Dave Moffat, assistant curator of decorative Art at National Museums Liverpool, said: “Moir’s paintings are unmistakably his; his passion for birds is visible in every brushstroke, along with his knowledge of each species.
“He studies each bird before painting it, allowing him to capture their character and quirks with his own unique blend of precision and wonder. The exhibition presents a joyful and imaginative study of British birds.”
From garden birds to seabirds, Dawn to Dusk celebrates the magic and majesty of many of the UK’s most-loved feathered friends, inviting us to appreciate their brilliance and importance through the beauty of paint.
Dawn to Dusk: Birds by Jim Moir will run from Saturday, June 14, to Sunday November 2.
