Arthur Parkinson was born and bought up in Nottinghamshire. He has loved chickens all his life and his other passions concern organic gardening, conservation and sustainable floristry. He is a writer, illustrator and photographer with his work and interests regularly shared on his Instagram account.

“Having known and kept many breeds of hens during my life, it has been lovely to draw them here in tribute to their personalities and movements. Some I have yet to know personally but many characters are here. Soft faced, Matron like Orpingtons and Cochins, painfully shy Welsummers, robust Sussex, hardy Hamburgs and Derbyshire Recaps, fiercely hawkish game birds, almost ridiculous Polands and endlessly broody but loveable bantams. For now, they have all come home to roost silently on the walls of the Tithe Barn here at Thyme.” -Arthur Parkinson.