Paper Birds

Part of Book Week Scotland 2025.

Join us and illustrator Helen Kellock for an afternoon of crafting and companionship inspired by our beautiful volumes of the Birds of America by John James Audubon.

Come along on the afternoon of the 18th November and enjoy some crafting and companionship all whilst getting up close to our stunning Audubon book. Our College heritage team will give an introduction to the book and talk about its history in the College, its creator, John James Audubon, and discuss some of their favourite illustrations from the work. Using Audubon's illustrations as inspiration, Helen Kellock will guide you through a crafting workshop where we'll be making paper bird ornaments which you can gift to friends and family, hang up in your home or even save until Christmas as a wee tree decoration.

There also be tea, coffee and cake to help fuel your creativity!

It's free to attend but places are limited so please book in advance.

About The Birds of America

The Birds of America was published between 1827-1838 and is considered to be one of the greatest works of ornithology ever produced and has been one of the most valuable books in the world for many years. A full set of Birds of America contains four volumes featuring 435 illustrations - The College has a half set which it bought second hand in 1838. Each bird featured in the book is painted to a life-size scale and every single one is hand-painted.

Book Week Scotland
Brought to you by Scottish Book Trust – the national charity changing lives through reading and writing – Book Week Scotland 2025, will take place 17–23 November, linked to this year’s theme of Friendship.

Working with a wide range of partners, hundreds of free events take place during Book Week Scotland in libraries, community spaces and venues all over Scotland.

Now in its fourteenth year, Book Week Scotland is supported by The National Lottery through Creative Scotland as well as funding for libraries from Scottish Library and Information Council (SLIC).

bookweekscotland.com

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