An exhibition of bird and fish carvings by Mike Lythgoe has opened at the Roger Billcliffe Gallery in Glasgow.

Mike who was born in Liverpool, worked in the merchant navy before emigrating to Canada.  Working on the shores of Lake Ontario he would spend hours photographing and observing the bird life including his favourite bird, the loon.

He bought an old wooden decoy while on holiday in Cape Cod and when he returned to the UK in 1986 he decided to become a bird carver.  After two years of building his reputation at large country shows he held his first exhibition in 1988 and shortly afterwards won the European Decoy Carving Championship.

His fish and bird carvings are mostly made from cedar, although he also uses piranha pine and redwood. Inspired by the early North American decoys, his early work concentrated on realism and very fine detail but it has now evolved into a distinctive curvaceous style.

The exhibition by Mike Lythgoe is on at the Roger Billcliffe Gallery, 134 Blythswood Street, Glasgow G2 4EL from 28 October to 21 November 2006.  Opening hours Monday to Friday 9.30am to 5.30pm and Saturday 10am to 1pm.

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