Kurt Jackson’s Rivers

From source to sea, artist Kurt Jackson’s fascination with the rivers of the British Isles and beyond has endured throughout his life. This book explores, for the first time, Jackson’s visual and written responses to the rivers that he has followed, from the continent of Africa to his home county of Cornwall.

The diversity of the waterways that Jackson has come to know through his travels is echoed in his images, which capture habitats rich in flora and fauna. We can also discern the changing face of our rivers - choked by pollution and straining to survive the abuses inflicted since industrialisation restricted the natural flow of the network of blue lines that trickle, meander and run through our lands. Celebrating those networks common to us all, this important publication reminds us of the splendours of our rivers - powerful and fragile in equal measure.

George Monbiot is an environmental campaigner, journalist, writer and film-maker. His most recent book, Regenesis: Feeding the World without Devouring the Planet, was published in 2022. British artist Kurt Jackson’s practice involves both plein air and studio work and embraces an extensive range of materials and techniques, including mixed media, large canvases, printmaking and sculpture. He has been artist-in-residence on the the Greenpeace ship Esperanza, at the Eden Project and at Glastonbury Festival since 1999, and is Honorary Fellow of both St Peter’s College, Oxford University and Arts University Plymouth, while also holding a Honorary Doctorate from Exeter University for his services to the arts.