The Lost Spells: Listening to a Landscape of Voices will open on 18 July and run until 5 October 2025.
A follow-up to critically acclaimed book The Lost Words, The Lost Spells invites readers to conjure up the sights and sounds of the natural world. This family-friendly exhibition will feature original artworks and poems from the book, as well as a specially created soundscape and interactive experiences.
Jackie Morris said: “It is so special for me, having the Lost Spells exhibition in Bath, a place I lived in, studied in (at Bath Academy of Art) and worked in for over a decade. Bath is a beautiful city, rich in wild lives. Most of the creatures of Lost Words and Spells can be found both in and around the city. I loved the honey tones of the stones, the swifts in summer and kingfishers on the river and canal, as well as the foxes. And the parklands are so beautiful too. It’s like coming home for me having the exhibition in the Victoria Art Gallery.”
With over 100 exquisite illustrations, this exploration of the natural world honours Britain’s wildlife and reminds us of just how precious it is. The accompanying spell poems give voice to the flora and fauna that make our countryside magnificent; each one is dedicated to an animal, tree, bird or flower native to the UK. Visitors will encounter all manner of creatures, from foxes to thrifts and curlews to barn owls.
Part of the gallery will be transformed into a badger sett and miniature forest with a range of sensory activities and an exciting educational trail. A custom-made storytelling tree - where you can add your own leaf to the foliage - will ‘grow’ throughout the exhibition.
An interactive touch screen will allow visitors to create their own songs of nature using live recordings of wildlife including an owl, fox and curlew. A digital glossary featuring artwork from The Lost Spells will introduce wildlife native to the UK, explaining more about its natural habitats.
A series of spoken word pieces, wild nature calls and acoustic music created by musicians from the Spell Songs ensemble – the musical evolution of The Lost Words and The Lost Spells books – will create an ambient soundscape, which invites audiences to listen to what nature is telling us. The exhibition will also feature a recording of a song by vocalist, multi-instrumentalist and producer Cosmo Sheldrake.
Jackie Morris will be painting live in the gallery on Saturday 4 October from 10.30am to 12.30pm, and there will be a creative programme of family activities throughout the school summer holidays.
The Lost Words was originally published in response to the removal of everyday nature words, including "acorn", "bluebell", "kingfisher" and "wren", from a widely used children’s dictionary. It grew to become a much broader protest at the loss of the natural world around us, as well as a celebration of the creatures and plants with which we share our lives.
Councillor Paul Roper, Cabinet Member for Economic & Cultural Sustainable Development, said: "We look forward to welcoming The Lost Spells exhibition to Bath. The success of The Lost Words and The Lost Spells demonstrates a passion for the natural world across the country, and this exhibition offers a wonderful opportunity for our community and visitors to re-connect with Britain’s native species. We hope art and nature lovers of all ages will enjoy the exhibition.”
The Lost Spells: Listening to a Landscape of Voices, Robert Macfarlane & Jackie Morris. In association with Hamish Hamilton & Penguin Books. Exhibition commissioned & produced by Northumberland National Park.
