Throughout his long and distinguished career, which
spanned over sixty years, Eric Hosking OBE.,
Hon FRPS, FBIPP (1909 –1991), was widely
acknowledged as one of the world's most eminent
natural history photographers. His work was
admired, published and exhibited in countries
around the continents of the world. For many years
he travelled the length and breadth of the United
Kingdom presenting lectures, illustrated with
slides of his most impressive pictures. The superb
quality of his images, his meticulous care
for his subjects and his boundless enthusiasm
inspired three generations of young
naturalists and photographers to follow in his
footsteps. There can be no doubt that
his photographs have made a significant
contribution to our wider understanding and
concern for the living world.
Eric’s interests, however, were not confined simply to natural history photography; they ranged across a wide spectrum of matters ornithological. He was a perceptive and sensitive observer of birdlife and the thousands of hours spent patiently waiting in his hides produced many interesting and valuable observations, which were meticulously recorded in his notebooks. He was always keenly interested in painters and bird art. Some of his most treasured possessions were paintings, which he had gathered together and enjoyed for many years. He was an avid collector of books and his shelves were a treasure trove of ornithological volumes, many items of considerable historical interest in their own right.
Eric’s interests, however, were not confined simply to natural history photography; they ranged across a wide spectrum of matters ornithological. He was a perceptive and sensitive observer of birdlife and the thousands of hours spent patiently waiting in his hides produced many interesting and valuable observations, which were meticulously recorded in his notebooks. He was always keenly interested in painters and bird art. Some of his most treasured possessions were paintings, which he had gathered together and enjoyed for many years. He was an avid collector of books and his shelves were a treasure trove of ornithological volumes, many items of considerable historical interest in their own right.
The aims of the Eric Hosking Trust are to sponsor
ornithological research through the media of
writing, photography, painting or
illustration. Bursaries of up to £750 may be
awarded to suitable candidates from any country
once a year. The Trust has been awarded
charitable status and a board of Trustees,
consisting of Professor Richard Chandler, Dr Jim
Flegg, Robert Gillmor, David Hosking, Robin
Hosking, Edward Keeble, Derek Moore, Paul Williams
and Martin Withers has been established. The
Trust was launched at a major retrospective
exhibition of Eric Hosking’s vintage prints at The
Wildlife Art Gallery in Lavenham, Suffolk, on April
24th 1993. In addition, a volume of Eric’s black
and white photographs with a text specially written
by Dr Jim Flegg, with a foreword by Miriam
Rothschild, was published by HarperCollins in
autumn of 1993.
Registered Charity No. 1018588
Available for purchase are both a book on Eric
Hosking's work priced at £20 plus p&p costs,
and a selection of Eric Hosking's prints for
display. For information on these, fill in an
enquiry form here.