Lost for Words: Jackie Morris

Jackie Morris’s work captures the beauty of the natural world while reflecting on the deeper losses we face. There is often a sadness to it. Her collaborations, such as with Robert Macfarlane highlight her ability to create art that is not only visually stunning but also thought-provoking.

A good book or a powerful piece of art will stay with you long after you’ve experienced it, and in the case of these books, exhibitions and more I also can’t stop thinking about the statistics behind the works.

It may seem odd for something so visually stunning and filled with beautiful words to bring your mind back to hard facts. Yet, alongside the sensory experience, the sobering figures that inspired Morris and Macfarlane’s projects are both striking and deeply sad. It all started with The Lost Words in 2017 which made the Wainwright Prize Shortlist.

Brace yourself.

• Research from Cambridge University found 8-11 year old schoolchildren to be 'substantially better' at identifying common Pokémon characters than common species of British wildlife such as badgers or oak trees.

• A 2016 survey showed that three-quarters of British children spend less time outdoors than prisoners do.

• By 2015, words culled by the Oxford University Press Junior Dictionary included bluebell, conker, heron, acorn and kingfisher.

That third bullet point led to a campaign to reinstall these lost words and many like them, and Jackie Morris was one of the signatories of a letter drawn up by Laurence Rose and Mark Cocker. This was the inspiration for The Lost Words, a 'spell-book' which celebrates the power of nature to spark imagination.

Each lost word inspired an acrostic 'spell' penned by Macfarlane for which Jackie would create three images - the first being a scene in which the bird or animal has left a yawning space in the world, much like the tree at Sycamore Gap, the second an illustration on gold background of the creature which represents their 'conjuring' back by the spell, and the third a complete picture of wildlife and habitat reunited.

The idea that children have become less exposed to and therefore interested in nature to the extent that words are disappearing from our language is disturbing and poses a threat to our communities. Perhaps more worrying is the reverse of this - that losing the word is the first step towards losing the species. How can you care for something that has no name?

When seen up close and large, Jackie Morris's art transcends the postcards and book covers where it is often used. Her pictures are intimate and affectionate. There is a tradition in them, something about the combination of free-flowing watercolours and clear, dark outlines and brushstrokes. It's as if she is giving clarity to her dreams. Her style is familiar but I can't put my finger on it. Something from my childhood, bible stories, Tolkien, Lewis ... it's impossible to be sure but it is classical, and it is comforting.

Particularly intriguing are the images on gold. They are like Victorian specimens, trapped and held to be examined. With context removed, the incredible beauty, intricacies and details of their forms are there to be studied. And how they stand out.

Jackie Morris is an illustrator of tremendous power, sending an essential message.

If you buy your Jackie Morris (LoveReading4Kids) and Robert Macfarlane (Lovereading) books at Lovereading, 25% of the cover price can be sent to your chosen school library.

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