I remember a nightfall from childhood, far from home and off the known track: I'd been walking with some older boys, but they ran off and left me, and as darkness hurried in, I suddenly realised how far from home I was. John Burnside boychildhooddarkness share on social
A modern arboretum brings us that ancient forest and, with it, a changed apprehension of time, a renewed appreciation of the elegance of natural form and a renewed sense of wonder at the variety of the world we inhabit. John Burnside ancientappreciationapprehension share on social
Anyone who has ever stopped to watch a hawk in flight will know that this is one of the natural world's most elegant phenomena. John Burnside elegantflighthawk Change image and share on social
I always wanted to be a painter. I loved painting. I went on three different art courses but had no talent whatsoever. John Burnside artcourselove Change image and share on social
The son of a Fife mining town sledder of coal-bings, bottle-forager, and picture-house troglodyte, I was decidedly urban and knew little about native fauna, other than the handful of birds I saw on trips to the beach or Sunday walks. John Burnside beachbingbird share on social
Sometimes, when the wind hits hard and icicles form on the sea cliffs, we can all come together - and at those times, we are at our best. John Burnside cliffformhard Change image and share on social
Sadly, bird illustration has always been an under-appreciated art. John Burnside appreciateartbird Change image and share on social
There is a red sandy beach in the Minas Basin in Nova Scotia that is unlike any other shore landscape I have ever seen. The world's highest tides wash its shores, and the soft cliffs of Blomidon Provincial Park are constantly crumbling away; whole trees will occasionally slide down to the sea to decay slowly in the wind and brine. John Burnside basinbeachblomidon share on social
Irrationality interests me more than anything: sometimes it's very dangerous, but it can be incredibly beautiful. John Burnside beautifuldangerousincredibly Change image and share on social
Growing up, I lived in a house without art: no picture books on the shelves, no visits to museums, no posters on the bedroom wall. John Burnside artbedroombook Change image and share on social