Field Guide – Future Edition
A new art exhibition inspired by our dioramas by Artist in Residence Sam Parsons.
Opening on Friday 3 April 2026 in Gallery 1, the exhibition will run throughout our open season.
About the Exhibition
As humans, we often separate ourselves from the rest of the natural world, but Field Guide – Future Edition invites us to reconsider that relationship.
Inspired by many plants and animals in our dioramas, artist Sam Parsons intuitively explores the canvas much like discovering a new habitat. His paintings evolve through multiple layers, to become entangled, immersive views with no fixed timeline. Old garments and scrap fabrics emulate organic forms, whilst fleeting glimpses of the animals move through the room.
The exhibition will also feature an immersive soundscape inspired by recordings captured in Quex Gardens by our Community Gardener Rosie Carr, together with ceramic artist Julia Ellen Lancaster and participants from the Sunshine Project groups.
About Sam Parsons
Sam Parsons is a painter from Whitstable, Kent. His practice draws on a background in zoology, experience in conservation and a 20-year career as a fashion designer. These influences shape both the research and materials behind his work.
Through painting and mixed media, Sam’s work challenges the viewer’s perspective on humanity’s place within nature. His practice explores the more-than-human world, engaging with ideas of nonhuman agency, environmental ethics and ecological storytelling.
He received the Harold Tillman Scholarship to study an MA in Womenswear at the London College of Fashion. During this time, experiments with textiles led to a shift from fashion into fine art.
Sam has since developed his practice through mentorship programmes including the London Creative Network, Artquest’s Eco Activism Salon and Beyond Studio. Recent exhibitions include shows at the Nunnery Gallery, London Art Fair, and The Pie Factory.
Find out more via his website: www.samparsons.com
Growing up locally, I visited the Powell-Cotton Museum many times as a child, which helped foster my fascination with nature. Having now studied zoology and become an artist, it is exciting to return and interpret the scene with a fresh perspective — one that learns from natural history to champion a more natural future.
Sam Parsons
Visiting the exhibition
Field Guide – Future Edition opens on Friday 3 April and runs until Friday 30 October. It is included with your standard admission ticket, there’s no need to book a separate event. Simply choose your preferred visit date and book your museum tickets as usual.
Keep an eye on our events programme for special talks and workshops with Sam taking place throughout the spring and summer season.
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