Big Cats Roar Into Gloucestershire Gallery for Summer Art Exhibition
Are Big Cats Roaming Britain? Nature in Art Explores the Mystery
Gloucestershire’s Nature in Art is set to turn heads this August with a unique exhibition inspired by sightings of Britain’s most elusive creatures – big cats. Running from 12 to 22 August, Depicting Britain’s Beasts – The Art of British Big Cats features a bold mix of artwork, sculpture, and poetry that brings these mysterious animals to life.
With mounting evidence supporting the presence of big cats in the British countryside – from DNA analysis to tooth marks on bones – this timely exhibition explores how people are portraying their encounters through art and verse. Visitors can expect to see black leopards, mountain lions and lynx, all imagined or reconstructed in recognisable British settings like woods, farmland and hedgerows.
The artwork spans everything from book illustrations and posters to wood and bronze sculpture, food and beer branding, and eyewitness reconstructions. Even limericks and personal poems make an appearance – a creative celebration of these shadowy countryside predators.
Adding to the intrigue, the event will be stewarded by big cat witnesses – people who’ve had sightings themselves and will be on hand each day to speak with visitors.
Curated by Big Cat Conversations podcast host Rick Minter, the exhibition highlights a growing cultural curiosity.
“It’s splendid to see Nature in Art hosting this aspect of Britain’s hidden wildlife,” said Minter. “Large predators have always been represented in the art and culture of their lands, and now this is happening in Britain as well. Art can help our awareness of these stealthy large cats that are now culling deer. No doubt they mainly originate from discarded trophy pets, but they now seem to be playing their part as predators in the ecosystem, and moving some people to illustrate them.”
Running alongside until 7 September is the British Wildlife Photography Awards 2025, showcasing top talent in UK nature photography – the perfect wild pairing for a summer visit.
For more details contact Rick Minter, rick@bigcatconversations.com
Explore Gloucestershire
4 August 2025
Photo credit: Tim Bradford
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