John illustrated over a hundred books in full or in part. A fairly comprehensive bibliography was published in his book Land Marks and Sea Wings in 2005. Not usually signed, the artworks would be sent back once the publisher had finished with them. Sometimes these originals would be part of an exhibition accompanying the book, […]
Publications
Looking at Birds – an antidote to field guides
published by Langford Press 2013 This book is a little gem which will bring joy and amusement to the reader. – Tim Wootton in Birdwatch Magazine Thought-provoking? I think so. Busby says: ‘identifying a bird is only the beginning’. – Dan Powell in British Birds Looking at Birds is an outstanding guide to observing the […]
Land Marks and Sea Wings
Published by The Wildlife Art Gallery, Lavenham 2005 The present volume demonstrates that Busby is both an inspirational teacher and a major artist in his own right – Mark Cocker in the Times Literary Supplement John’s paintings and drawings spanning more than half a century are accompanied by his perceptive writings. – Aubrey Art Gallery “This […]
Nature Drawings
Individually numbered and signed limited edition. Full page reproductions of John Busby’s charcoal or pencil drawings with reproductions of his handwritten notes opposite each. Short-eared owls feature, as well as other Busby favourites: grebes, kites, ospreys, kittiwakes and gannets and a sprinkling of penguins and birds from more exotic places. There are foxes and otters […]
Lines from Nature
Busby’s curiosity about and delight in the natural world jump from every page of this book by Mark Boyd in the Scottish Ornithologists’ Club Journal Arguably among the most influential British wildlife artists of the post-war period Drawn to Nature feature in the BBC Wildlife magazine Aug 2016 I don’t see how anyone could be […]
Living Birds of Eric Ennion
Published by Victor Gollancz 1982 Edited by John Busby, with an introduction and commentary. “Eric Ennion was a unique but not widely known genius of British wildlife painting. A Cambridgeshire doctor with a passion for nature, he gave up medicine to pioneer Field Study Centres and to write, to broadcast and above all, to draw […]
Drawing Birds: an RSPB Guide 1st ed.
First edition published 1986 “John Busby looks at birds with the eye of a birdwatcher and artist, and explains his techniques with the ease and enthusiasm of the expert teacher. The book is divided into six sections. The introductory chapter describes some of the ways artists have looked at birds in the past and […]
Drawing Birds: an RSPB Guide 2nd ed.
Second edition including the work of more artists and with a foreword by Bill Oddie published 2004 “This is a fully revised and updated new version of a popular RSPB handbook to the art and joy of drawing birds. John Busby beautifully conveys his own remarkable ability to capture the grace and notion of living […]
Birds of Mallorca
A guide for the birder or naturalist embarking on a holiday in Mallorca with illustrations of the island by the author. It examines all parts of Mallorca with regional accounts from the Salinas de Levant’s saltpans in the south, to the northern Sierras and the coast and back lanes of Cala D’Or. Pat Bishop, with […]