Boy, 13, lets artistic talent fly with exhibition

Jake Sexton has combined his lifelong love of painting with his interest in birds and nature

A 13-year-old boy from Nottinghamshire has said he is delighted with the response after a series of his bird paintings went on display at a nature reserve.

Jake Sexton said he had been drawing for most of his life and his interest in nature and conservation was encouraged by his family when they went on walks.

He said he felt "quite proud" to have had his work on display at Attenborough Nature Centre, which has been an important site for the family.

His watercolour paintings of birds, moths, fungi are on display until 31 October, with funds raised from any sales going to Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust, which runs the site.

Peregrine falcons and other birds of prey feature in many of Jake's paintings

Jake has previously had work displayed at the Global Bird Fair in Rutland, but said he enjoyed having an exhibition closer to home.

"I feel quite proud to have paintings up in the [Attenborough] nature centre," he said.

"People are normally quite shocked that [the paintings] are done by a 13-year-old."

Jake's father Tim, who now works at Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife Trust, said he was "incredibly proud" to see Jake's passion for art and nature come together.

"One of his paintings is now in Canada, so it's amazing to see his work when it's being displayed, and to hear all the wonderful comments we're getting about his work and achievements at such a young age," he said.

"He does moan a little bit when I say we're going out for a walk, but when we're out there he'll bring his camera or his phone, he'll take pictures of fungi and then he uses those to work from with his artwork, which is really nice.

"He obviously really enjoys it, because he spends hours doing these watercolour paintings, and he finds it a really good way to relax after a hard day of school.

"With all the modern things that are going on in the world around us, it's nice just to release yourself from that and sit down with a bit of paper and do a painting."

Speaking about the exhibition, Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust's head of communications, Erin McDaid, said: "Jake's talent speaks for itself - but the links with the family and the reserve and centre make the exhibition extra special and we hope many more people will come along to view it before the end of the month."

Tim Sexton said he was "incredibly proud" of his son Jake's work