The Monoprint 'Ringed' thematises coastal birds with a focus on Ringed Plover. The motif shows my coastal walk at Horden Beach where I observed pollution, and coastal birds, living in seemingly harmony; except, unfortunately, they are not.
Surrounding the red line are feathers that I collected during walks on sites in South Tyneside, one of which was a construction build as compensation for the loss of the Ringed Plover's habitat. Whether the feathers I found, or the two wading birds I saw were my species in focus, becomes less important than whether they were not, ergo the lack of such.

The title 'Ringed' reflects one of its many names, but also that of being marked.

Through research – e.g. trips initiated by Northern Print and myself – I have learned that the Ringed Plover is personable, sociable and 'the homiest of all our native shorebirds, nesting all round the coast and even inland'. So unique in its appearance it 'will form friendships with birds of an entirely different race, colour, size or habit' and amusing 'so inconsequent and full of new ideas that one never gets tired of spending hours in his company.' (Massingham, 1931)

However, according to South Tyneside Council (2023) 'due to their numbers declining by over 50 per cent, they have been placed on Red List of conservation concern.' The Ringed Plover seems to be brilliant at so many things, except one of its qualities has become its enemy. Further, a South Tyneside area 'is known for having multiple pairs breed each year although most nests fail to fledge any chicks due to disturbance. Their brilliant camouflage allows them to be hidden in plain sight making them at risk of trampling from humans and dogs. This means that few, if any, chicks survive to fledge the nest.'

A new bestiary and herbarium for at risk species by artists from Northern Print.

“Endless Forms Most Beautiful” is made possible with The National Lottery Heritage Fund. Thanks to National Lottery players, we have been able to support visits, new printmaking and school’s programme for this project.

Northern Print artists bring together traditional printmaking and the natural world with a series of new prints highlighting the diversity of species that are categorised as ‘at risk’.

The ‘endless forms’ include marine life; plants; birds; insects and mammals with many familiar and much-loved species as well as less known and intriguing creatures that have captured the imagination and hearts of Northern Print’s artists.

This exhibition of 45 new prints has been made following a series of visits to our region’s natural history collections and habitats and represents the tiniest tip of the iceberg of our natural world under threat.

The artwork includes a range of approaches and printmaking processes – including heritage craft skills also deemed at risk including letterpress and mould-made papers