In Sky Arts’ new six-part travelogue, Painting Birds with Jim and Nancy Moir, the husband and wife duo visit stunning UK locations in search of birds to sketch. Along the way, they draw ornithologists, local artists, and celebrity pals into their birdwatching and painting adventures.
Here Jim and Nancy Moir guide us through their new series…
Painting Birds with Jim and Nancy Moir — release date
Painting Birds with Jim and Nancy Moir season 1 launches on Sky Arts and NOW on Wednesday, April 19 2023 at 9 pm. New episodes are available weekly.
Is there a trailer for Painting Birds season 1?
Yes! It shows Jim and Nancy as they go bird watching with famous friends, and battle the elements as they enjoy paining birds in the great outdoors!
Check out the official trailer for Painting Birds below...
Painting Birds with Jim and Nancy Moir — the premise
Jim Moir is best known for his alter ego Vic Reeves and comedy partnership with Shooting Stars’ Bob Mortimer, but there’s another aspect to the funnyman. He’s a prolific artist and a devoted birdwatcher. In Painting Birds, Jim teams up with his wife Nancy to travel around the UK and share his two lifelong passions.
Speaking about the series Jim, 64, says: “I haven’t done Vic Reeves for six years. I can’t see him coming back, particularly. I spend my days painting now, so Painting Birds is just a perfect job. I learned about birds when I was young, but you can never know everything. It’s a thrill. You get that sense of excitement through the screen.
“I think everyone's an artist. A lot of people think art is about being able to draw in a classical style. You don't need that. Art can be whatever you want it to be. Throw paint at a canvas and hang it on the wall — that’s art.”
Painting Birds season 1 — locations and celebrity guests
In the series, the Moirs visit stunning locations in Cornwall, Kent, Scotland, Yorkshire and Lancashire searching for choughs, owls, eagles, gannets and bearded tits. Along the way Jim and Nancy meet ornithologists, local artists, visit local areas of interest and also spend some time with famous friends. As well as plenty of laughs, each episode sees Jim paint the featured birds in his studio in Kent.
In episode one the couple visit Northumberland and meet up with actor Mark Benton, star of Early Doors, Land Girls, the original series of Waterloo Road and Shakespeare & Hathaway.
In episode two, they’re in Cornwall with conceptual artist Cornelia Parker.
Episode three sees the Moirs in Kent with musician pal Jools Holland.
Episode four sees the husband and wife in Scotland where they catch up with musician Edwyn Collins.
Episode five is based in Yorkshire with Pop Artist Colin Self as their guest star of the week.
And the series comes to a close in Morecambe Bay with naturalist Chris Packham, best known for his TV shows The Really Wild Show and BBC’s Springwatch, Autumnwatch, and Winterwatch series.
Jim and Nancy on filming Painting Birds
Jim on being filmed while painting: “I really don't like cameras or anyone looking over my shoulder because you want to show the finished product, but I know that that's what has to happen, so, I'm learning to deal with it. You’ve got to live with it if you're going to do a series like this!”
On travelling and filming together
“We had the best time,” says Nancy. “Believe it or not, Jim and I don’t argue. We sing instead. When you’re travelling for a very long time, there's so much to see out of the window, including birds. And if you think you’re going to argue, just sing.”
Jim adds: “Everything you see us doing on the programme is full-on real without any script. That’s what happens in real life when there’s no camera on us. It’s all very natural.”
Painting Birds with Jim and Nancy Moir — season 1 episode guide
Painting Birds with Jim and Nancy Moir — episode 1:
‘Northumberland’
Jim and Nancy are Curlew spotting in Northumberland with the help of bird expert Tom Cadwallender and along the way see redshank, eider, grey plover, and a peregrine falcon. Later, on the Holy Island of Lindisfarne, Jim teaches fledgling artists Nancy and Mark Benton the joy of painting - despite the blustery weather!
“When Jim was teaching Benno and I we had to keep moving to find somewhere we weren’t blown all over the place,” laughs Nancy. “He’s a really good teacher. He’s taught me acting and art now. Jim always says ‘Never be afraid. Get the paintbrush and just go for it.’ I’m not an artist, but I’ve learned a lot and know my birds now - I’m ‘choughed!’”
Painting Birds with Jim and Nancy Moir — episode 2:
‘Cornwall’
Jim and Nancy are in Cornwall in search of choughs, which Jim describes as ‘his favourite crow,’ and pay a visit to artist pal Cornelia Parker.
“We do three days filming [for each episode] and in Cornwall one of the days was absolutely beautiful,” reveals Nancy. ‘That’s when you really get to appreciate the views of the places that you go to.”
Painting Birds with Jim and Nancy Moir — episode 3:
'Kent'
Jim and Nancy are in Kent to see owls and catch up with the one and only Jools Holland.
“We love Kent and the weather was amazing,” says Nancy “We had a brilliant time at Elmley Nature Reserve and Kent Owl Academy. What more could you ask for?”
Painting Birds with Jim and Nancy Moir — episode 4:
‘Scotland’
Jim and Nancy are on the remote Isle of Harris in the Outer Hebrides on the look out for eagles. They also enjoy a catch up with Edwyn Collins.
Speaking to What To Watch, they shared their memories of this episode.
Jim: “When we were looking for the eagle it was touch and go on whether we’d see it or not. I don’t want to give anything away but it was pretty close!”
Nancy: “I learned how the golden eagle shows off to woo the female. They fly higher and higher, drop a stone and, as it falls, go around until it gets near the bottom and then scoop it up. It’s just amazing.”
Jim: “It’s like being at one end of a rugby pitch and throwing the ball then running to the other end and catching it and going ‘Check me out!’”
Nancy: “It’s seriously impressive. I mean, I would go out with that golden eagle.”
Jim: “If I could do that with a rugby ball, would you go with me?”
Nancy: “Yes!”
Painting Birds with Jim and Nancy Moir — episode 5:
‘Yorkshire’
Jim and Nancy visit the stunning East Yorkshire Coast on the lookout for gannets. They are joined by local experts, artists Colin and Jess Self, and go on a trip down memory lane over a cuppa with Jim's mum, Audrey. While in Scarborough Jim challenges Colin to complete a painting of the seaside town in 30 minutes.
Painting Birds with Jim and Nancy Moir — episode 6:
‘Lancashire’
Jim and Nancy are in Lancashire in the hope of catching a glimpse of the elusive bearded tit, which Jim describes as "a unique bird... to see one in the feather is really exciting... they're quite mysterious." Colour us intrigued!
The couple also meet up with wildlife legend Chris Packham, local experts, bird watchers, and artists in the final episode of this delightful series.
Painting Birds with Jim and Nancy Moir season 2 — will there be a second season?
Updated June 15, 2023
Sky Arts have confirmed Painting Birds with Jim and Nancy Moir will return for a second six-part series, following the huge success of series one, which has had the biggest series launch on Sky Arts this year so far.
Jim and Nancy, along with a host of exciting celebrity guests (to be announced at a later date), local artists and conservation experts, will be embarking on their second tour of the UK and Ireland, visiting a range of scenic locations to explore the local birdlife in their natural habitats. Once again, they will be taking on the challenge of creating artwork inspired by the regions they visit, the unique species they observe and the friendly faces they meet along the way.
This series, their adventures will include visiting Chatsworth Estate to learn about the dippers, taking a trip to Battersea Power Station to spot an iconic pair of nesting peregrines and searching for puffins in their wild habitat of the Antrim Coast, plus much more.
Jim and Nancy will also try their hand at an array of artistic techniques during their travels, such as creating linocuts of stilts and golden plovers in Wrexham, learning about the local community project The Hide Sculpture in Fingal, Dublin and using traditional Chinese ink and calligraphy brushes to paint Loch Mallochie in the Scottish Highlands.
The second series of Painting Birds with Jim and Nancy Moir was commissioned by Phil Edgar-Jones, Director of Sky Arts and Entertainment for Zai Bennett, Managing Director of Content for Sky UK and Ireland. The Commissioning Editor for Sky is Barbara Lee. The series went into production in May 2023.
The series is produced by Drum Studios, part of Omnicom Media Group, headed by Andy Holland. Danny Carvalho and Sadia Butt are the executive producers.
You can see Jim and Nancy announcing the news below...
The second series of Painting Birds with Jim and Nancy Moir will air on Sky Arts, Freeview and NOW in 2024.
