Nigel Hughes (b. 1940) developed his drawing abilities at the Royal Academy Schools 1977-81. Since then he has painted professionally and exhibited in Ireland, Scotland, England (mainly London), Mexico and the USA.

Projects include 40 large watercolours of the more spectacular Maya monuments in Mexico and Central America, followed by oil paintings of all the species of the neotropical Cracidae (curassows, guans and chachalacas), the most endangered bird family in the Americas. His work resulted in his election as a fellow of both the Linnean Society of London and the Royal Geographical Society.

There are also evocative assemblages of maritime objects and still-lifes, and landscapes.

His earlier exhibitions were at Oliver Swann’s various galleries in London. The latest two were at the Fine Art Society in New Bond Street.

Museums and institutions that have shown or own his work:

Museo Nacional de Antropología in Mexico

Canning House, London

National Arts Club, New York

Instituto Cultural Anglo-Mexicano, Mexico

Copenhagen University Museum of Natural History

Oxford University Museum of Natural History

Houston Museum of Natural Science, Texas

Missouri Botanic Garden, St Louis

Armagh County Museum

Down County Museum

Wiltshire County Museum

St Barbe Museum, Lymington

Royal National Lifeboat Institution Headquarters

His work has been widely used for illustrations. It has also been considered collectable by buyers on both sides of the Atlantic, television producers, film stars and some of the leading architects and designers of the age.

Nigel Hughes is the author and illustrator of Maya Monuments (2000) and Curassows, Guans & Chachalacas (2006).