Adrift on a Painted Sea by Tim Bird is a beautiful and profound graphic novel, published by Avery Hill, that explores family, loss, and art through the author's relationship with his mother, Sue Bird, who painted as a hobby throughout her life. The exhibition displays a range of paintings by Sue Bird, alongside some artwork from the graphic novel, written by her son Tim after her death to celebrate her art and life.

Sue Bird was always painting: botanical art, landscapes, still-lifes, and especially the sea. She took classes, kept countless sketchbooks, and filled the house with art. From their neighborhood to their family trips to the North Yorkshire coast, all the moments of her life were memorialized in her artwork. Throughout her life, she never sold a piece -- she gave art to family and friends and shared her work online, but never received wider recognition for her work. The new graphic novel by her son, Tim Bird, Adrift on a Painted Sea, explores their family life and her creative explorations through a mix of her paintings and Tim's comics, depicting their relationship and her life from teenagehood to her struggle with cancer at the height of the covid pandemic. After her death, this graphic novel and exhibition at last showcases her work.

As well as paintings by Sue Bird and artwork from the graphic novel, there will also be a display of sketches and sketchbooks.

The graphic novel will be officially launched at the exhibition preview on the Friday 15 November, 6-8pm. Join us at the preview for a glass of fizz and a chance to get a copy of the book signed by author Tim Bird!

The exhibition will be at the Mercer until 31 March 2025. See the Mercer website for opening times.

Accessibility Information: The Mercer Gallery is fully accessible, with ramped access at the side door.