Celebrate “The Brilliance of Birds” at Rheged

By John Freeman on 6 July 2026 • ( 0 )

Celebrating the beauty, behaviour, symbolism and diversity of birds through the work of 57 British artists, The Brilliance of Birds has just opened at Rheged in Cumbria, running until Sunday 4th October 2026.

This new exhibition features ceramics, painting, print, photography, sculpture and textiles, alongside original children’s book illustrations and a spectacular mural by Cumbrian artist David Cemmick depicting birds visiting Cumbria through the four seasons.

*Photos from the inspirational Rheged “Brilliance of Birds” exhibition by Mal Earl*

Enjoy art inspired family activities for all ages, throughout the exhibition, which also features art by Jo Garrick, whose work, “Barn Owl Hunting”, available here as a limited edition print, has been used to promote the installation; Mandi Baykaa-Murray, aka “The Feather Lady”, whose work is painted on the finest of feathers; Martin Truefitt-Baker; Yulia Brodskaya, an artist known for creating intricate artworks using folded strips of coloured paper, reimagining what painting can look like in the third dimension; Kendal-based photographer Jonny Gios; Lucy Jean Green aka Name and Colour, whose work is greatly inspired by mythology and fact that surrounds birds; Leominster-based print makers Hally & Christy; lino cut and screen printer Liz Jones; Raif Killips, creator of folk and fine art, and decorative walking sticks; glass artist Kate Lavender, creative director of North Lakes Stained Glass, who is running a specialist tie-in stain glass workshop at Rheged on 11th July; Oxford-based artist Anna Lockwood; collage, paint and print artist Hayley Noakes; Kelso-based ceramics artist Clair Norris, of Samieston Ceramics; the stone sculpture creations of Jennifer Tetlow; award-winning and award nominated Kent-based artist Emily Tull; print maker Sally Winter; and wildlife enthusiast and nature photographer Simon Whalley.

*Art in the exhibition by Martin Truefitt-Baker*

*“So Fly”, a fun portrait of a wren by print makers Hally & Christy*

*Prints by Hayley Novak’s of Fig Tree Studio Art*

Opened in 2000 close to the M6 at Penrith, Rheged is a gallery, café, cinema, shopping venue, workplace and creative space on the edge of the Northern Lakes: a place where stories are told, ideas are sparked and the Cumbrian landscape is a constant source of inspiration.

Rheged is a couple of minutes’ drive from the M6 (J40) at Penrith. along the A66 towards Keswick.

• The Brilliance of Birds runs until Sunday 4th October 2026 Rheged Centre, Redhills, Penrith, Cumbria CA11 0DQ| Open 9.30am-5pm daily | Last Entry 4.00pm | Admission £3 | Children 16 and under go free

Your ticket is valid to enter the Gallery any time on the date of visit booked

Regular bus services between Penrith and Keswick stop at Rheged. Visit traveline.info for timetables

With thanks to Mal Earl

About the Author
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John Freeman

John is the founder of downthetubes, launched in 1998. He is a comics and magazine editor, writer, and Press Officer for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He also runs Crucible Comic Press.

Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine and Overkill for Marvel UK, Babylon 5 Magazine, Star Trek Magazine, and its successor, Star Trek Explorer, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics; and has edited several comic collections and graphic novels, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”, and Hancock: The Lad Himself, by Stephen Walsh and Keith Page.

He’s the writer of comics such as Pilgrim: Secrets and Lies for B7 Comics; “Crucible”, a creator-owned project with 2000AD artist Smuzz; and “Death Duty” and “Skow Dogs”, with Dave Hailwood.