A new exhibition at the Scottish Ornithologists’ Club in Aberlady brings together two artists who share a passion for the diversity of the natural world in Scotland. Liz Myhill and Lucy Newton immerse themselves in nature, painting outdoors from life to better capture their subject in a particular moment. Their work is full of energy and invention, in turn gentle or raw, detailed or suggestive. They also share a preference for watercolour, often mixing in other media such as crayons and charcoal.

Liz Myhill has a deep-rooted connection to her native Isle of Skye and the Highlands and Islands. This collection includes both field paintings and fine art prints such as collagraphs and etchings. She was the Swarovski Optik & Birdwatch Magazine Artist of the Year in 2021 and was shortlisted for the Highland Art Prize in 2022. She is an elected member of the Royal Society of Painters in Watercolour. Lucy Newton’s collection ranges from seasonal birds visiting our coastlines to long established badgers’ setts. She explains, ‘I enjoy depicting both the bright, brilliant beauty as well as the most clever, subtle camouflage of our varied wildlife. In order to try and capture this diversity, I will often vary my medium, style or even the pace at which I work, giving a different energy to each piece.’