Where it all began
The Colour of Silence marks the beginning of Clare Newton's long-standing exploration of the natural world through photography. For many summers, she retreated to an old granary on the edge of Berkshire woodland, where the rhythms of nature encouraged a slower, more attentive way of seeing. Small, often overlooked moments became the focus of her work: the shifting shadows across newly unfurled leaves at dawn, wasps gathering around fallen apples, the intricate relationships between plants, insects and light.
These quiet observations developed into a photographic journey that sought to reveal the extraordinary beauty and complexity of the living world—inviting us to pause and look again at what is so often overlooked.
The resulting artist's book, The Colour of Silence, combines Newton's photographs with contributions from leading voices in conservation, science and environmental thought, including senior figures from organisations such as the RSPB and the Technical Director at the Arboricultural Association, university researchers and environmental specialists, Foreword by Tenzin Gyatso, 14th Dalai Lama. Together they offer different perspectives on our relationship with nature and our shared responsibility for its future.
Described by BBC wildlife and science presenter Kate Humble as "a beautiful and thought-provoking book," The Colour of Silence remains the foundation of an artistic practice rooted in close observation, curiosity and a profound respect for the natural world.
