Susan Ogilvy Knihy

A unique celebration of the architectural ingenuity of birds, this work by an acclaimed illustrator began when Susan Ogilvy discovered a chaffinch nest in her garden after a storm. Intrigued by the transformation of the sodden lump into a mossy jewel, she painted the nest at life size, igniting her obsession with capturing the beauty of bird nests. Over time, Ogilvy has painted more than fifty nests, marveling at their intricate constructions. Each bird species has its own unique style, sourcing materials like twigs, grasses, and feathers based on local availability. Importantly, Ogilvy never disturbs nesting birds; she relies on finding abandoned nests or those displaced by wind. While her discoveries are primarily from Somerset and the Isle of Arran, the birds represented can be found across Europe, Scandinavia, and even as far as Russia and North Africa. This exquisite book stands out for its rarity, as few modern works focus specifically on bird nests, with the last significant reference published in 1932. Beautifully designed and packaged, this book is a must-have for nature lovers and a testament to the wonder of avian architecture.

An illustrated natural history of British native trees, by a celebrated botanical artist and her forester brother-in-law In Overleaf, the botanical painter Susan Ogilvy and the eminent forester Richard Ogilvy introduce us to each of the native trees of the British Isles - and a number of non-native, but much cherished, naturalised species - via close and artful consideration of their leaves. From water-loving alder to long-lived yew, Susan paints both the front and back of every tree's leaf or needle in exquisite, jewel-like detail, reproduced on the page at exactly life size. Running parallel to Susan's paintings, Richard provides expert commentary on the natural history of the trees, the ecosystems they inhabit and the traditional uses of their timber, helping us identify each species in the wild while exploring the roles they have played and continue to play in our landscapes and communities. As vivid and true to life as a book of freshly picked and pressed leaves, Overleaf will delight and inform tree-spotting beginners and seasoned naturalists alike.