Arts Features

On most days during the height of summer you'll find artist Eleanor Ludgate walking on Dartmoor, camera and sketchbook in hand, eyes peeled for the moor's colourful but increasingly elusive butterflies.

Eleanor, who is based in Chagford on Dartmoor, has a growing collection of watercolours of Devon's butterflies and insects - part of her wider Devon's Nature in Art project.

Her paintings of Dartmoor's butterflies are on show at the High Moorland Visitor Centre in Princetown from 26 June to 22 July 2009. The exhibition features over 20 original paintings as well as prints.

The event coincides with a campaign to revive Dartmoor's dwindling butterfly numbers.

Eleanor works from her gallery in Chagford

The moor is home to up to 25 species of butterfly - that's almost half of the British total. But in recent years, sightings of some of the species have gone down alarmingly, sparking a project aimed at reversing the decline.

The Two Moors Threatened Butterfly Project - which is run by Butterfly Conservation and also takes in Exmoor - is focusing on habitat management at sites where butterflies are known to be present or where there is potential for them to return.

It's hoped the work will lead to the revival of high brown, marsh and heath fritillary butterflies in particular.

For Eleanor, the sight of butterflies fluttering around blackberries and buddleia is a huge source of inspiration. And she is using her artistic talents to help increase awareness about their plight.

"Because I live in Chagford now, I find I'm doing more nature work, particularly nature I see in Devon, and I'm linking it with conservation," Eleanor told BBC Devon.

"Everything is in decline and it's very worrying."

Butterflies on buddleia by Eleanor Ludgate

Eleanor has a gallery in Chagford, but gets out for a moorland walk on most days: "After a day indoors I have to get out," she said. "I'm a great walker and I always have a camera and sketchbook with me in case I see something for me to work on."

She says that butterflies are "a subject very dear to my heart" and describes them as "these jewels of the air."

Eleanor added: "It is amazing how long it can take to paint just one butterfly as I like to get it looking as perfect as possible and in the correct setting - usually life-size.

"Having been observing and painting butterflies and insects for many years I am acutely aware of their fragile existence and their decline in recent years.

"I hope that this exhibition will in a small way help to raise awareness of the importance of these wonderful creatures."

As well as the exhibition, the Dartmoor National Park Authority has organised a series of guided butterfly walks. Telephone 01822 890414 for details.

And for more about Eleanor's work, visit her Devon's Nature in Art website which is linked from the top right of this page.

Eleanor Ludgate's 'Our Butterflies' exhibition
High Moorland Visitor Centre, Princetown
26 June - 22 July 2009
Admission: Free