Barbara Rae Norridge’s Elegance celebrates the avocet, one of Britain’s most distinctive wading birds and an important symbol of the country's conservation efforts. Once lost as a British breeding species, the avocet returned to the Suffolk coast in 1947 and subsequently became the emblem of the RSPB, representing the remarkable success of wetland conservation.

Norridge's fascination with wildlife began long before she settled in Leicestershire in 1992. Having spent much of her life in Africa, she studied at the Johannesburg College of Art Foundation, drawing inspiration from the continent's extraordinary wildlife reserves. Her artistic interests have since increasingly embraced Britain's native birds, particularly gamebirds and waders, alongside a growing concern for the preservation of their natural habitats. In Elegance, three avocets wade gracefully through shallow water, reflecting Norridge's interest in the relationships and behaviours of birds in their natural environments. The painting embodies her enduring commitment to celebrating Britain's birdlife while drawing attention to the fragile wetland ecosystems upon which these remarkable species depend.