British Big Cat Exhibition & events

This exhibition and the related events have been organised by Big Cat Conversations,  specialist artists and big cat researchers.

Join us for some art, craft, tracking and science, to learn about Britain’s big cats – the once discarded pets that are now stealthy deer stalkers of our forests. 

As well as artwork depicting the black panthers, the lynx and the pumas described by witnesses, the event will have input from visiting artists, big cat witnesses, a research briefing from the Royal Agricultural University, and investigators from across the region will be on hand to discuss tracks and signs of the cats.     

British Big Cats Exhibition –

the Art & the Science

Exhibition by Big Cat Conversations

Britain’s big cats are the focus of a month-long exhibition at the Dean Heritage Centre from the 3rd of April until the 4th of May.

With evidence from DNA and tooth marks on bones, British big cats are emerging from myth to reality. Believed to result from discarded pets, three species of large cats are described across Britain. These cats now seem to be adapting well to Britain’s woods and forests, and live secret lives as stealthy deer cullers.

Find out more about British Big Cats at the exhibition in Gallery 41.

Activities & Talks

3rd of April

Exhibition is open in Gallery 41

Find out more about British Big Cats at the exhibition in Gallery 41.

Big Cat Face Painting

Head over to the meeting room and be transformed into your favourite big cat.

Meet a British Big Cat Witness and Investigator 

-See scale examples of panthers, pumas and lynx 

-Discuss camera traps & thermal cameras 

4th of April: 

Meet artist Endymion Beer

She will be doing the cartoon panthers, Bod & Min, visiting the Forest of Dean. Kids can make a pop-up Bod & Min to take home.

Meet a British Big Cat Witness and Investigator 

-See scale examples of panthers, pumas and lynx 

-Discuss camera traps & thermal cameras 

-Walk the Gruffalo trail & discuss tracking big cats  

Big Cat Face Painting

Head over to the meeting room and be transformed into your favourite big cat.

5th of April

Meet artist Endymion Beer

She will be doing the cartoon panthers, Bod & Min, visiting the Forest of Dean. Kids can make a pop-up Bod & Min to take home.

Meet a British Big Cat Witness and Investigator 

-See scale examples of panthers, pumas and lynx 

-Discuss camera traps & thermal cameras 

-Walk the Gruffalo trail & discuss tracking big cats  

18th & 19th of April:  

The science of the tooth marks – Detecting British big cats’ prey  

Meet postgraduate student Leo Willis,  researching British big cats at the Royal Agricultural University. He will explain tooth marks on the bones of prey left by big cats.  

Meet a British Big Cat Witness and Investigator 

-See scale examples of panthers, pumas and lynx 

-Discuss camera traps & thermal cameras 

-Walk the Gruffalo trail & discuss tracking big cats

25th & 26th of April

Meet a British Big Cat Witness and Investigator 

-See scale examples of panthers, pumas and lynx 

-Discuss camera traps & thermal cameras 

-Walk the Gruffalo trail & discuss tracking big cats

2nd – 4th of May:  

Meet mural artist Rob Amos

He will be producing Dean Panther artwork over the May Bank Holiday weekend. 

Meet a British Big Cat Witness and Investigator 

-See scale examples of panthers, pumas and lynx 

-Discuss camera traps & thermal cameras 

-Walk the Gruffalo trail & discuss tracking big cats

4th of May, 2 pm

Big cat witness forum

If you’ve encountered a big cat in Britain, join our witness forum for a special recording of the Big Cat Conversations podcast 

Man in the woods - Scott Johnson