Rupert Bowen

he/him

The Arrival of Spring 2026

Over fifty days, from Imbolc to Equinox, I recorded the arrival of Spring in my neighbourhood. My aim was to investigate time passing through observing and recording dawn and dusk, the growth of plants, the weather, tides, moon phase and my own mood and activity.

The daily sunrise observations became a stop-motion film set to the dawn chorus of bird song. The snowdrops started emerging from the ground just as I started this project, so I recorded them over the next few weeks as they grew and flowered. This became a stop-motion film called Snowdrop Story, made from 120 drawings in pencil on paper, scanned and set to music. The snowdrops are very small but they have great presence, so I made a big drawing of them.

*The Arrival of Spring: Daily Sunrise Observations January-March 2026*, chalk pastel, coloured pencil and acrylic marker on pre-printed paper, 21 x 29.7 cm; stop-motion video with birdsong and photos, duration 4 minutes. [Access on VIMEO](https://vimeo.com/1174704388)

The Arrival of Spring: Daily Sunrise Observations January-March 2026, chalk pastel, coloured pencil and acrylic marker on pre-printed paper, 21 x 29.7 cm; stop-motion video with birdsong and photos, duration 4 minutes. Access on VIMEO

*Snowdrop Story*, 120 drawings in pencil on paper, 21 x 29.7 cm; stop-motion video with music, duration 1‘ 53”. [Access on VIMEO](https://vimeo.com/1174052064)

Snowdrop Story, 120 drawings in pencil on paper, 21 x 29.7 cm; stop-motion video with music, duration 1‘ 53”. Access on VIMEO

*Snowdrops 2026*, chalk pastel on tinted gesso on lining paper, 170 x 112 cm.

Snowdrops 2026, chalk pastel on tinted gesso on lining paper, 170 x 112 cm.

*February Moons 2026*, charcoal on paper, 76 x 56 cm.

February Moons 2026, charcoal on paper, 76 x 56 cm.

*Plum Cherry in Blossom, February 2026*, chalk pastel on grey paper, 59 x 84 cm.

Plum Cherry in Blossom, February 2026, chalk pastel on grey paper, 59 x 84 cm.

The Arrival of Spring January-March 2026, stop-motion video with birdsong, duration 4 minutes.
Snowdrop Story, stop-motion video with music, duration 1‘ 53”.
Creation Story