Larks and Leverets

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Larks and Leverets deals with the wildlife commonly found on Norfolk’s farmland. There are chapters on hares, long-tailed tits, skylarks, displaying pheasants and winter flocks of pink-footed geese. There are also features on other typical farmland species such as grey and red-legged partridges, turtle doves, rabbits, pigeons and doves, lapwings, butterflies and stoats.

Larks and Leverets contains over a hundred paintings, numerous watercolour studies and written observations. The notes on behaviour have been made from direct field experience and the paintings have been completed, almost exclusively, outdoors at the time of watching.

The foreword is by John Busby. Larks and Leverets is full colour throughout, 140 pages long with printed end papers and limited to 1500 copies. The first 50 copies are a special edition with an original hand-coloured and hand-printed etching on the cover and spine. The following 1450 are hardback with dust jacket.

Review quotes and extracts from the foreword

“....seeing nature through James’ eyes we realise just how cursory our looking really is. James draws quickly and watches slowly. Both skills have been sharpened by years tuned-in to wildlife wherever he finds it, and to Norfolk in particular.”

“My favourite painting is of a ‘parade’ of six French partridges walking in single file towards you, each bird a character full of wary tension following the leader. James’ line is as perceptive and full of humour as ever and brings everything to life.”

John Busby; Foreword