Fern Print by Jim Moir

This wonderful, colourful painting, titled Fern the Diplodocus and the Natural History Museum Gardens has been created to celebrate the opening of our gardens. Just like them, it captures the coming together of the prehistoric, the present day and a future full of hope.

There are just 250 editions available, each one a print of the original painting by artist Jim Moir, who you may know better as comedian Vic Reeves. It’s a canvas not only full of colour, boldness and joy, but also of intrigue – as you might expect from someone who is a master of humour too.

Jim’s paintings, whether they’re of living birds or extinct dinosaurs capture the spirit, nobility and vulnerability of species. His brushstrokes feel as energised and awestruck by nature as we are, while respecting that so much of it remains a mystery.

How will the print be packaged? 

The numbered edition of each print is selected at random. Each print arrives unframed and unmounted in a specially designed folder called a folio, which measures H48cm x L67.4cm and has a magnetic closure. The folio opens like a large book and is made from strong, black cardboard that’s typically used to protect artwork. It's all prepared for us by the expert team at King & McGaw.

On the inside cover you’ll find the certificate of authenticity. The folio is placed in a black, organic cotton tote bag with ‘Natural History Museum x Jim Moir’ printed in lime-yellow on the side.

How did the collaboration with Jim Moir come about?

All good stories begin with an ambitious idea and end with a hero. 

This one starts with our Urban Nature Project – an ambitious idea to transform our five-acre grounds into a haven for wildlife in the heart of a bustling capital.

That haven is now a thriving home to grassland, wetland and woodland habitats – and Fern, our bronze Diplodocus. What we needed next was someone to spread the word.

Up stepped Jim Moir. Through his captivating, vibrant artwork, he’s brilliantly captured the wonder of our gardens, with Fern stealing the show.

We got ourselves a hero and the rest is natural history!