He admits to a “life-long fascination” with native seabirds, so it’s only fitting that artist Richard Bramble’s latest project is helping to care for them.

Richard, from Sherborne, has joined forces with the Marine Conservation Society to launch his British Seabird Collection of dinner plates, bowls, mugs, tea towels and more, inspired by family holidays in the Outer Hebrides.

Each piece is created from an original watercolour painting and features one of four iconic sea birds – an oystercatcher, puffin, tern or gannet – and a percentage of each sale will be donated to the Marine Conservation Society.

“Seabirds are one of our most fascinating wildlife species and a pleasure to paint; from the comical puffins (also known as ‘parrots of the sea’) to noisy oystercatchers, spectacular majestic diving gannets and the elegant Arctic tern (the longest migrating bird in the world),” said Richard , who has spent 20 years painting seabirds, from the Hebrides to the Scilly Isles.

He now splits his time between the wild Outer Hebrides islands and his home and studio in Sherborne.

“Protecting the marine environment is something I feel passionately about as seabirds’ lives depend on the health of our fish stocks, coasts and seas,” he added.

“Their numbers are a good barometer of how well we are looking after these environments.”

Richard, who attended Sherborne School in Dorset, with an art scholarship followed by a degree in painting at the Slade School of Fine Art in London, now sells his work from his studio shop and at Borough Market in London, where he is one of the founding stallholders having had a stall there since 1999.

His passion for wildlife, as well as one for ingredients and cooking, led to a collaboration with top British chefs creating The Starchefs Cookbook, which in turn led to various ceramic commissions by Michelin-starred chefs for their restaurants.

Many of his designs come from working with fellow producers and farmers. His ceramics, textiles and original artwork depict everything from vegetables to saltwater fish and farmyard animals.

Richard describes himself as a “hands-on artist”, usually painting from life in the natural habitat of his subject – walking, fishing and diving for inspiration in some of the most far-flung corners of Britain and around the world.

He is delighted that his latest efforts will be helping to protect the wildlife which so inspires him.

“By supporting the Marine Conservation Society we can all contribute to making our seas fit for native seabirds to thrive in and for people to enjoy for generations to come.”

  • richardbramble.com