'Michael
Warren's regular visits to Langford
Lowfields, a gravel pit in the English
Midlands, longer journeys, for example
to Scotland, to see particular species
and occasionally to 'twitches', allow
him to study birds, their behaviour,
habitat and weather in the field.
Sketches and notes can then be used to
create a studio image in a well-designed
harmony of colour and texture. This, the
artist's fifth book, is a superb
collection of drawings from his
sketchbooks and field notes, also over
60 new paintings. Warren's favourite
bird is the Northern Lapwing
Vanellus vanellus,
and he also declares a special
fascination with beaches. Lapwings
certainly feature here, as do,
wonderfully variegated in colour and
composition, beach and other scenes.
Many other birds, arranged in systematic
order and with brief captions, are
depicted, and both they and their
habitats confirm Michael Warren's
outstanding artistic skills and
knowledge of his subjects.'
Mike
Wilson
Ibis vol 151 iss1 Jan 2009
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Conveying movement and memories on canvas
'Personally I really love his work...To create this book, Michael
Warren looked back through his diaries and sketchbooks to recall birding
experiences in various parts of Britain and Ireland. He then created more than
60 new paintings to bring those sketches to life. The result is a mixture of
rough pencil field sketches and feather perfect watercolours...the decision was
made to follow the systematic order, starting with divers and ending with
buntings. this approach works, and means that you can logically work your way
through the various families...Every picture conveys movement of some kind, on
the part of either the bird or its surroundings; a Dipper sits quietly by a
rushing stream...his paintings have always tended towards exaggeration and
that's what makes them exciting...this is a great book, and if you like
paintings that motivate you to grab your binoculars and go out birding, this is
definitely one for you.'
Keith Betton Birdwatch April 2008
'....In some ways, the book could be described as a bird-artist's
field guide.... It is almost impossible to select the painting I would most like to
see on my wall.... OK, it's a fair cop, I'm an unashamed fan; but then it is very
difficult not to be. Mike is a master of composition and design, but the skill
that puts his paintings onto another level is his ability to place the bird
naturally into its habitat.... Again, those at Langford Press deserve to have
praise heaped upon them for maintaining the high standard they have set with
this series of sumptuous volumes. Judging by their latest catalogue, I won't be
stuck for things to put on my next Christmas list.'
Dan Powell British Birds
January 2008
'This fine tome charts most of the species that Michael Warren
has encountered in a lifetime's birding in Britain. It ranges from his coloured
sketches through to sumptuous, lively, detailed full-page colour composition
spreads in watercolour or acrylic. It is a pleasure to see so many previously
unpublished paintings in print as well as many personal anecdotes and field
sketches of birds.'
BTO News Sept-Oct 2007
'Another feast of images. Michael Warren fans will certainly want
to add this to their collection.'
Birdwatching Magazine October 2007
'His paintings combine sharp field observation and birding
knowledge with great technique, design and compositional skills. Mike produces
pictures that are often dramatic and strikingly coloured, and which evoke
exciting moments in the natural world'.
Birds magazine
August 2007
'showing pencil and coloured crayon drawings from his sketchbook...they are
beautifully reproduced'.
Birds Illustrated Winter 2007
'he shows his command of a range of styles from loose and impressionistic field
sketches to accurate illustrations of the birds. His pictures and sketches have
a wonderful sense of movement; of rushing water, lapping wave, whirling flocks
of birds, running waders. This is a worthy successor to his previous volumes.'
Scottish Bird News Dec 2007
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