Welcome

Welcome to the website dedicated to the life and work of Eric Ennion, a remarkable all-round naturalist who was one of the twentieth century’s most talented and original wildlife artists.

"... a man of great humanity, intelligence, energy and fun."

Robert Gillmor

"... a much loved figure... his illustrations and paintings introduced a new spirit into the portrayal of birds, and expressed most clearly his vision of nature."

John Busby

Eric Ennion c.1975

Eric Ennions's A Tenerife Diary was published by Benton Street Books in October 2025 in a limited edition of 750 numbered copies. It is available to purchase, post-free in the UK, direct from the publishers or copies may be ordered through bookshops.

Although birds are at the heart of A Tenerife Diary, Eric spreads his net much wider in this lively account of the two months he and Dorothy spent on the island. He was an astute observer, not only of the fauna and flora but also of the local people and their way of life.

In May 1961 Eric and Dorothy headed south again, this time to France for a two-week exploration of the Camargue and the Crau. Eric’s account of this trip and his reflections once home form the book’s final section.

72 pages, 36 illustrations in colour, sepia and line. ISBN 978-0-9570465-1-1 £36

One more book of Eric Ennion's work is planned. If you own any Eric Ennion watercolours or drawings and would be prepared to allow them to be reproduced in the book, please contact the editor Bob Walthew - details are on the contact page.

Most of Eric Ennion’s work is held in private collections. It is only through the goodwill of owners in allowing their pictures to be reproduced that such books can be published. The help of everyone who has already made contact is greatly appreciated.

The website is edited by Bob Walthew and was created in association with the Wildlife Art Gallery at Lavenham in Suffolk. The aim is to build a comprehensive online resource. Comments about the site, corrections, and suggestions as to what additional material might be included are most welcome.

The Wildlife Art Gallery was founded by Andrew Haslen and Graham Barker in 1988 and, after a brief period online only, closed in 2023. The gallery published two books of Eric Ennion’s work: A Life of Birds which reproduces all the pictures Eric Ennion painted for Shell in the 1960’s, and One Man’s Birds which focusses on Eric Ennion’s life and work in the 1930’s. There is more information about both books in Bibliography 2, and both are available to purchase from Benton Street Books.

We are grateful to the owners of paintings, photographs and other material for their cooperation in making images available for display on the website, and to Eric Ennion’s family for their encouragement and support for the project. Thanks also to Chris Lodge of chrislodgeart.com for invaluable technical help.

The pied wagtail, great tits and ringed plover were painted for Shell in 1964; click on the small images to see larger versions and additional artwork. The courting red-necked phalaropes on the header date from the 1930’s. The quotations at the top of the page are taken from Robert Gillmor's appreciation of Eric Ennion in British Birds in October 1982 and John Busby's introduction to The Living Birds of Eric Ennion (Gollancz, 1982). The photograph of Eric Ennion was taken by Bob Walthew at Weyhill in the mid 1970's.