The Singing Sky at Kevis House Gallery

16 JULY 2026

4.00pm – 6.00pm

Excitement is building for the Petworth Summer Festival, opening on Thursday 16 July. The first event of the 2026 Festival is a talk by the two artists behind this year’s Kevis House / Petworth Festival exhibition ‘The Singing Sky’ – Rebecca Jewell and James Roberts.

Internationally recognised artist Rebecca Jewell will explain how her work references both the beauty and wonder of birds but also their fragility and vulnerability. Rebecca’s feather collages are filled with colourful songbirds and birdsong notes that are printed directly onto feathers. Her pieces reference birds flying at sunset, flocks of parakeets, and the extraordinary distances some birds migrate.

James Roberts, who is an author and award-winning environmental film maker as well as an artist, will focus on landscape and birdsong – from the cry of the curlew on our coasts and uplands, to the boom of the rare bittern in our wetlands. He will talk about sound ecology as a way of understanding the health of our landscapes; the inspiration that birds and their songs provide for everyone; and the ancient connection between birds and art.

Rebecca and James will be joined at the talk in the Leconfield Hall by Stewart Collins, Petworth Festival artistic director, and Lucy Hodgson of Kevis House Gallery.

The talk at 4pm will be followed directly by the opening drinks party for the exhibition, at Kevis House Gallery, until 8.30 pm.

We hope you can join us at what promises to be an inspiring event.

Book your place here