Second Nature: The Art of Charles Tunnicliffe RA

Charles Tunnicliffe RA (1901-1979) won acclaim for his closely observed depictions of birds and other wildlife. He portrayed these as a living, breathing part of the landscape, never as specimens. His distinctive etchings, wood engravings and watercolours – some of which you will see in this focused display – made his name as a fine artist and he was elected a Royal Academician in 1954. At the same time, Tunnicliffe’s work became known more widely though his popular book illustrations and commercial designs.

To coincide with a newly published, comprehensive catalogue of his prints, we bring together a range of Tunnicliffe’s work, from accomplished prints and commercial designs for Brooke Bond tea cards, to original artwork for Ladybird Books – including familiar titles like The Farm and the What to Look For series about wildlife through the seasons. We also present the 1932 first illustrated edition of Henry Williamson’s Tarka the Otter, from the RA Collection.

While you’re in the exhibition, you can scan the artworks to learn the stories behind them with Smartify. This free app saves the stories to your phone, so you can enjoy them in the galleries, or read up later! Follow the links to download from the Android or Apple app stores.