Description

Sarah Gillespie, Garden Tiger Moth, a limited edition mezzotint, 2019. This dramatic creature is part of a series of 20 images of  common British moths. While they do appear regularly in Britain, now they are sadly all in danger.

Over a year, Sarah Gillespie became fascinated by moths – these delicate and much misunderstood creatures and observed her subjects in enormous and careful detail.  She has become concerned at the 30% losses  in moth populations, which are greater than for any other species. This has happened because we are just so ignorant about moths.

The artist’s mission is to help us to see her moths more clearly. So, as a viewer, you will be well rewarded. The images repay endless close scrutiny. They are subtle and made with such a light touch seeming to flicker like the creatures they represent. Mezzotint is a difficult and specialised technique, and as a result, the prints are all in small editions.

Sarah Gillespie is an exhibitor in Bugs Beauty and Danger, where she is showing 14 of her moth images. You can read more about her and the context in which we are showing her work.  https://www.groundworkgallery.com/exhibition/current-exhibition/

A new interview with the artist

Read an in-depth interview with Sarah Gillespie by writer Karen Eng. https://groundworkgallery.com/sarah-gillespie/

Some details about Garden Tiger moths

Desription: A ‘stout hairy species’ with chocolatey brown and cream patterned fore-wings and hind-wings, orangey-red with black spots.

Habitat: It prefers cool temperate climates and is native to the northern United States, Canada, and Europe. It survives in a wide variety of habitats from woodlands to grass and, as its name suggests, gardens. The adult Garden Tiger is active from June to September.

Caterpillars: The brown furry caterpillars of the Garden Tiger (Arctia caja) are known as ‘Woolly Bears’ and feed on a large variety of host plants, among them Foxgloves (which are said to contribute to its toxins), and members of the daisy family.

For more information read our blog: https://www.groundworkgallery.com/why-we-should-worry-about-moths/