 | OF A FEATHER - AN ILLUSTRATED LEXICON OF AVIAN COLLECTIVE NOUNSLavishly illustrated, beautifully produced and in large format, this book is a stunning new edition of Colin See-Paynton’s book Of a Feather first published by Gwasg Gregynog in an edition of just one hundred and fifty. Now this superb new limited edition of seven hundred and fifty copies makes See-Paynton’s work available to a much wider public. A lexicon of avian collective nouns extensively researched, compiled, written, and illustrated by Colin See-Paynton the book draws on a lifetime’s love and experience of art and nature and is the result of four years intensive work. The highly informative and illuminating text discusses the origins of avian collective nouns and shows a deep insight into the habits and character of the birds featured concluding with comprehensive lists of avian collective nouns both real and imagined some of which date back to the fifteenth century. These charmingly poetic collective nouns transport us back to the rich language of bygone times and take us on an alphabetical journey from ‘Abandonment of Cuckoos’, through ‘Gaggle of Geese’, ‘Tiding of Magpies’ to ‘Zephyr of Long-tailed Titmice’. The thirty-one full page wood engravings of quite extraordinary detail thrillingly capture the very essence of the birds and the text is further enriched throughout with the use of a further thirty exquisite wood engraved decorations. Sir David Attenborough in his foreword gives a fascinating and authoritative account of wood engraving from his lifelong interest in the medium, writing: ‘Colin See-Paynton has introduced yet another vision to the rich tradition of wood engraving. His delight in the lines of a bird so elegantly inscribed by the cut of his graver, his skill in varying texture even though he only has black and white with which to do so, his palpable pleasure in composing his subjects into joyous designs have brought something new to the portrayal of birds.’ David Alston, Arts Director, Arts Council of Wales writes: ‘An Admiration…that should be the collective noun for Colin See-Paynton’s Of a Feather, for this has been an extraordinary enterprise. Not since Thomas Bewick (1753-1828) have both literary and pictorial aspects been found conjoined in the one talent as in this project, where Colin See-Paynton has both written about and made the plates for an illustrated lexicon of the collective nouns for birds.’ 750 numbered copies of this book ‘Of a Feather’ have been published by Stingwern Books, only seven hundred copies are for sale. The binding is in full red buckram with silk head and tail bands and with gold blocking to the spine and front board, the whole housed in a contrasting buckram covered slipcase. The printing of all the wood engravings was overseen by Colin See-Paynton and carried out by Northend Creative Print Solutions of Sheffield using Regency Klassica 150 gsm paper chosen for its colour, texture, and opacity, and most importantly for its perfect suitability in the fine printing of wood engravings. The typeface used throughout is Palatino Linotype. Each copy is numbered and signed by the author. Publication date: May 2010 Hardback: 13¼ x 9½, 140 pages with 31 full page plates more than 60 wood engravings in total Price: £195 Post and packing £10 UK, £15 Europe, £18 Rest of the World |
 | The Incisive Eye: Colin See-Paynton: Wood Engravings 1980–1996The Incisive Eye reproduces and catalogues over 150 prints, with over 20 prints reproduced as close as possible to their actual size. The foreword is by Kyffin Williams RA., and the introduction by David Alston. In a technical essay, Colin See-Paynton describes the transition from field sketch to finished print. The essay is illustrated with photographs, by Vince Bevan, of the artist at work. ' ‘From Thomas Bewick in the 18th century to Charles Tunniclife and Gertrude Hermes in the 20th, the British school of wood engraving has been able to express, in visual terms, our love of the countryside. Colin See-Paynton not only inherits the skills and vision of these earlier artists but adds the brilliance of his design and his mastery of the movement of birds, animals and fish.' Kyffin Williams. Hardback: 285 x 230 mm 96 pages. Includes over 200 b&w illustrations. 1859283039 Hardback SOLD OUT 1859283055 Special Limited Edition Hardback complete with print of 'Air and Water' and housed in a slip case £300 |
 | Air & Water: Colin See-Paynton: Fish and Fowl Engravings 1984-2004Air & Water brings together for the first time the complete collection of Colin See-Paynton’s fish and fowl engravings for the period 1984-2004. This limited edition book contains 43 engravings presented as a complete portfolio, printed one to a page. To accompany the plates Keith Harwood has selected extracts of text from piscatorial and ornithological literature by writers such as Bernard Venables, Arthur Ransome and Thomas Bewick. The book is available in a choice of two bindings, both printed on heavyweight environmentally friendly matt paper from sustainable sources. 750 copies numbered 1-750 bound in fine green Egyptian cotton cloth with gold blocked titling and tipped-in image on front. Gold and blind blocked on spine with head and tailbands, marker ribbon and marbled endpapers. 100 copies numbered 1-100 bound in full Morocco grain leather in deep red with silver blocked titling and tipped-in image on front. Silver and blind blocked on spine with head and tailbands, marker ribbon and marbled endpapers. Each copy signed by Colin See-Paynton and presented in a cloth covered slip-case. Publication date: Cloth 28 July, 2006; Leather 30 October, 2006 Pages:104 Format: 220mm x 270mm Illustrations 43 Cloth bound: 750 copies @ £45 each UK post and packing £5.95 ISBN: 1899-600-59-0 Leather bound: 100 copies @ £140 each UK post and packing £6.95 ISBN: 978-1-899-600-59-5 SOLD OUT |
 | OF A FEATHER – An Avian Alphabet Exhibition CatalogueOf a Feather – An Avian Alphabet was published to catalogue and accompany a major touring exhibition of Colin See-Paynton’s wood engravings 2003 – 2007. This exhibition catalogue contains illustrations of all the 61 engravings in the exhibition together with a preface by Colin See-Paynton, critical essay by David Alston formerly Keeper of Art at the National Museum of Wales and now Arts Director at the Arts Council of Wales and contributions from Sir David Attenborough and Sir Kyffin Williams. Paperback:
Limited edition of 1000 Paperback: New edition 2008
190 x 255mm: 50 pages: 61 illustrations |