Ray Ching – New Zealand Bird Paintings

Ray Ching is internationally recognised as one of the world’s greatest living painters of birds. Born in New Zealand, he established himself as a bird artist in the 1960s, before moving to England where he has spent the majority of his career, painting both birds and portraits. He has never lost his interest in his roots, however, the New Zealand birds that inspired his move into art, and over the last 60 years, he has built up a remarkable collection of paintings of our wildlife.

These form the heart of this gorgeous book, which is also accompanied by his own text. Working primarily in oils and watercolours, Ching’s works are incredibly detailed with an almost photographic quality. They are slowly built up, layer upon layer, often leaving the under-drawing peeking through the transparent paint.

This large-format, lavishly produced book is an impressive tribute to the legacy of one of the most significant wildlife painters of our time.