Welcome to the next installment of the murals in the hides! Today this is all about the lovely mural in the Gadwall Hide!
We get alot of comments about the murals (who painted them etc), and a while ago I came across the original information about the murals, so I thought I would start a little series as we do get alot of comments about the artists etc, so I thought I would share what I found with you (please keep in mind these were displayed about 15 years ago!)
Gadwall HideWhat can we see from here?Most of the life of the water world is hidden from our view, beneath the surface of the lagoon, only the huge carp occasionally breaking the surface. However, the water is full of plants, invertebrates and fish, and many birds depend upon these. Sand martins, nesting in the artificial bank, feed on flying insects hatched in the water; grebes, cormorants and kingfishers catch fish; coots feed on submerged weeds; dabbling ducks sift the surface for invertebrates and plant matter, while diving ducks chase small creatures beneath.
What does the mural show?The painting describes many creatures the live in and around the lake. Fish such as perch and pike, carp and roach, bullheads, gudgeon and loaches, eels and tiny sticklebacks and minnows. The fish are joined by birds searching for food, a cormorant and a kingfisher dive below the surface and sand martins dart above, a grass snake and a water shrew are some of the numerous creature that share their lives with the fishes.Nature, the artist feels, is not only beautiful to observe but is also invaluable as a place for contemplation, capable of reflecting the many layered reality of our own lives. The shining surface of the lake conceals the mysterious world that lies below.
Who is the artist?Justin Hindley grew up by the sea in Cornwall where he came to know and love nature. He studied illustration at Camberwell Art School and later natural history illustration at the Royal Collage of Art. Since graduating he has continued to explore drawing and painting, and he enjoys applying his work for illustration and for interior and exterior decoration. He also teaches at the college where he once studied.
The mural looks stunning on sunny days, the water reflects onto the mural and really does look like its alive!