Conservation groups working to improve the fortunes of Cornwall’s famous choughs are being helped by an art exhibition being staged in May.

The exhibition, at Mount Edgcumbe Country Park, features work by five artists and part of the proceeds will go towards the RSPB and National Trust’s efforts to protect Cornwall’s symbolic but scarce special bird.   

Chough paintings by Ian Griffiths, Janet Treby and Dick Twinney, will feature alongside linocuts by Ian Phillips and handmade porcelain choughs by ceramicist Julia Crimmen.

Mount Edgecumbe-based artist Chris Thorn was inspired to organise the exhibition after visiting wildlife artist Ian Griffiths’ studio on the Lizard, one of the hotspots for choughs.

Three choughs made a surprise appearance at the Lizard in 2001, after a 30-year absence. Two mated the following year and Cornish-born choughs were flying in Cornish skies once again.  

The RSPB, National Trust, Natural England and dozens of farmers and volunteers have been working hard ever since to make sure the birds have the habitat they need and their nests are not disturbed. There are potentially 12 pairs of choughs breeding in Cornwall this spring.  

Ten per cent of the exhibition’s takings will be donated to the RSPB and the National Trust.

The exhibition is at the Barrow Centre, Mount Edgcumbe Country Park, near Torpoint, and runs from May 6 to May 31.