Jim Moir Exhibition “Neo Fauna” at Cartwright Hall – see what Vic Reeves did after comedy - check it out before 31 August 2026!

Hot on the heels of the City of Culture and the 2026 Turner Prize being held in Bradford, Cartwright Hall in Lister Park is now hosting a new exhibition of art by Jim Moir – the artist formerly known as the comedian Vic Reeves.

The Exhibition entitled “Neo Fauna” features new artworks created specifically for the gallery and focuses on wild life particularly British birds including robins, ravens and guillemots. Now with his TV show about painting birds, Jim Moir has firmly established himself as one of the UK’s finest wildlife artists. But the Exhibition is also full of suprises with other wildlife paintings including some of humans!

Councillor Sarah Ferriby, Bradford Council’s Executive Member for Healthy People and Places said: “It’s fantastic to welcome Jim Moir to Cartwright Hall. Following the success of the Bradford district’s year as UK City of Culture and hosting the Turner Prize in 2025, we are continuing to bring ambitious and engaging exhibitions to the gallery. Neo Fauna celebrates close observation of nature and wildlife, which feels especially fitting here in Lister Park.”

The Exhibition is free to attend and takes place in the Hockney gallery, something which wasn’t lost on Jim Moir who said “it’s an honour to have my birds hanging where David Hockney’s work usually lives. I hope they behave themselves while they are there.” 

A bit about Jim…

Born in Leeds in 1959, Jim Moir is an artist and comedian also known as Vic Reeves. Moir studied at Sir John Cass Art School in London, where he pursued art foundation studies before developing a multifaceted creative career. His paintings have been exhibited widely across the UK, including a major series of bird paintings shown at Lady Lever Art Gallery in 2025.

Moir is also known for the Sky Arts series Painting Birds with Jim and Nancy Moir, which follows him and his wife exploring the British landscape through bird-inspired art.

What is wonderful about the exhibition is that Moir uses a range of styles, from watercolours, pencil, charcoal and massive oil paint canvases. Whilst the show mainly features birds, there are plenty of surreal paintings which showcase the weirder side of his art which mirrors his comedy.

It is a testament to the man’s creativity, that he can move between stunningly detailed real life studies of birds, then come up with other artworks which are giant colourful almost pop art canvasses of the same creatures almost as cartoons.

There are also some hilariously grotesque portraits of American couples!

It’s well worth a visit before the exhibition finishes at the end of August 2026.