Norfolk artist highlights fragility of British birds in The Red List exhibition at Felbrigg Hall
Environmental Artist Jayne Ivimey brings The Red List exhibition to Felbrigg Hall. The exhibition features 73 hand-crafted porcelain clay birds, representing the number of British bird species on The Red List, which are currently threatened or endangered. The Red List was inspired by Felbrigg’s nationally significant natural history collection, that features many rare birds which, due to climate change and human intervention, are no longer found in Norfolk.
The Red List, an art exhibition by Jayne Ivimey, has opened at the National Trust’s Felbrigg Hall in Norfolk, and offers a creative response to bird species decline and conservation, exploring themes of habitat loss, human impact and shifting migration patterns.
The exhibition is made up of 73 hand-crafted porcelain clay birds, which represent the number of British birds considered to be of the highest conservation concern, that means their breeding population is reducing by at least 50%.
In 2012, environmental artist Jayne Ivimey, returned home to Norfolk after seven years in New Zealand working in bird conservation, where she witnessed an oil tanker disaster that had a significant impact on the local bird population. That emotive experience stayed with her and on her return, she learned that the list of endangered British birds had reached a total of 52 species. Since beginning work on The Red List that total has continued to grow at an alarming rate and now equates to 73 species, with almost 30% of the regularly occurring bird species in the UK being considered at risk.
Jayne’s exhibition draws attention to the enormity of this species loss and highlights the conservation challenges amidst the current biodiversity crises.
Environmental artist, Jayne Ivimey, explains:
“The decline of these birds is so rapid, I wanted to create something visually that helped people see the gravity of the problem. Laying them out in a line helps to give a sense of scale and invites visitors to look closely and thoughtfully at what they represent. This exhibition provides an opportunity to open up a conversation with people about how they can make a difference, for example, leaving a rough patch in a garden where insects can thrive so that becomes food for birds. We can all help to play our part in looking after birds.”
Jayne’s inspiration for The Red List came from Felbrigg Hall’s nationally significant natural history collection, including taxidermy birds enclosed in cases known as dioramas.
The dioramas vary in size and were made by world-renowned taxidermists Gunn of Norwich and Pratt of Brighton. The birds featured were collected by the last Squire’s grandfather, Thomas Wyndham Cremer (1834-94), who was known to be a keen scientist in the study of birds (ornithologist).
The birds are a combination of British native and migratory species and provide a snapshot of the ornithological scene in 19th century East Anglia. Due to climate change and human intervention, many of the rare bird species that feature in the dioramas are no longer found in Norfolk.
In 2017, Jayne began drawing the Felbrigg birds, making use of an historical drawing technique known as silverpoint. Used by the Old Masters such as Leonardo da Vinci, Silverpoint involves the dragging of a pointed silver wire across a prepared, slightly abrasive surface to leave behind a faint, permanent metallic trace.
Jayne then went on to draw the bird collection at Norwich Castle Museum and the Natural History Museum in Tring, where nearly a million birds are carefully preserved. Wanting to memorialise ‘The Red List’, Jayne made the life-size stoneware clay models of each of the endangered birds, honouring them in the manner of effigies, so often found in old churches.
“In my studio, surrounded by the variety and sheer number of kiln-fired birds I realised the urgent need to reveal the scale of the problem. I left them unglazed, as to me I felt that gave them more of a ghostly presence.” Jayne explained.
A selection of the clay birds was first exhibited at the Groundwork Gallery in Kings Lynn in 2017, and in 2019 the collection went on display in Norwich Cathedral. Since then, the birds have travelled widely across the UK and Europe, having a significant impact on those who see them.
The Red List is on display at Felbrigg Hall in Norfolk until November 2026.
Paulina Kulacz, Collections and House Officer at Felbrigg Hall, explained:
“The Red List perfectly reflects the National Trust's commitment to caring for both cultural heritage and the natural environment. Felbrigg's taxidermy bird collection offers a fascinating glimpse into the past, but it also prompts important conversations about the future of our wildlife and landscapes.
“We are excited to be working with Jayne Ivimey on The Red List, an exhibition that transforms these conversations into a powerful visual experience. By placing art alongside conservation, the exhibition invites visitors to consider what we value and how we can all play a part in nature recovery to help secure a thriving future for wildlife.“