Pied Wagtail (Cardinal) Photograph

Lucy Stevens is a multidisciplinary British contemporary artist whose work explores our relationship with the natural environment. She draws inspiration from ornithology and colour theory. Her projects often include working in collaboration with experts in the natural world including scientists, museum curators, ornithologists, photographers and musicians. Her work interprets birdsong, museum collections and conservation data into mixed media abstract portraits and colour charts on paper, sound works developed from gathering field recordings and most recently wooden sculptures. Her most recent work in collaboration with Leicester Museum & Art Gallery explores creative methods for cataloguing British bird skin specimens. Her solo exhibition ‘Colour Coded Birds’, saw a diverse collection of bird specimens grouped together by colour alongside contemporary artworks. The bird skin collection inspired Lucy to create new 2D and 3D artworks that use intense colour combinations. Artworks included within the exhibition combine photography of the bird skins on display with Lucy’s signature instinctive mark marking. As well as colourful abstract wooden sculptures, holding bird eggs from the museum’s collection, which interpret ornithological data. Lucy has also worked with The British Trust for Ornithology and Leicestershire & Rutland Wildlife Trust to explore the effects of climate change on migratory birds. The exhibition of new work in ‘Chasing Seasons’ saw a collection of mixed media artwork informed by scientific research to demonstrate declines in bird populations and changes in bird behaviour due to extreme weather conditions. Lucy lives and works in Leicester. She received an MA and BA (Hons) in Fine Art from Nottingham Trent University. Her work has been shown in exhibitions and art fairs across the East Midlands and London. She has also taken part in artist residencies in London, Scotland, Brussels, France, and Sweden.