Jim Moir: from Laughs to Landscapes, A Comic Genius Turns the Canvas
You might know him best as Vic Reeves, the wonderfully eccentric half of the surreal British comedy duo Reeves and Mortimer. But away from the spotlight of TV studios and live stages, Jim Moir reveals another side, one that’s quietly focused, endlessly imaginative, and utterly absorbed in the world of visual art.
Moir has spent decades refining his craft as a painter, illustrator, photographer, and ceramicist. Signing his art under his real name rather than his comic alias, he’s carved out a distinctive place in the contemporary art world, one that balances whimsy with skill, humour with heart.
Birds, Brushes, and a Dash of Dada
If there’s a recurring theme across Moir’s diverse body of work, it’s birds. They populate his canvases in all shapes, sizes, and states of oddity. This lifelong fascination began in childhood. “When I was a kid there were no laptops or games or anything like that,” he says. “So you made your entertainment outdoors, and mine was looking for birds.”
Even now, birds remain central to his creative routine. “I wake up in the morning, usually about 5am,” he shares. “I go out and look at birds, then I come back and paint them.” The result is the now-celebrated Bird Series — vibrant, surreal portraits that mix natural beauty with imaginative flair. Far from traditional studies, Moir’s birds often appear with curious expressions and unexpected colour palettes, teetering on the edge of the absurd.
Critics and collectors alike have taken notice. His bird paintings have fetched impressive prices at auction and are regularly showcased in galleries across the UK. Their distinct tone, playful, occasionally macabre, always captivating, has drawn comparisons to Dadaism and surrealist pioneers.
The Art of Making People Laugh
Despite the serious attention his art now receives, Moir doesn’t approach his work with lofty artistic pretensions. “Art should be just for laughs,” he says. “If something makes me laugh, that’s it.” It’s a philosophy that spills over from his comedy roots and has shaped his visual output in delightful ways.
“I’ve done straight drawings and paintings,” he admits, “but I haven’t got as much pleasure out of them as if I’d done something that would make me laugh.” That joy in the creative process is infectious and central to his appeal.
Even during his television career, art was never far behind. Long-time fans of The Smell of Reeves and Mortimer will recall the animated opening credits, drawn by Moir himself, as well as his whimsical costume sketches sent to the BBC’s design department. His 1998 book Sun Boiled Onions brought many of these illustrations together, offering a glimpse into his colourful inner world and the seamless crossover between his comic and visual personas.
A Serious Force in the Art World
Though Moir’s comedy legacy looms large, his work as a visual artist stands firmly on its own. Over the years, he’s exhibited in major venues such as London’s Saatchi Gallery and Whitechapel Gallery, as well as holding solo shows in cities like Manchester.
This summer marks another key milestone with the return of Moir’s work to Newcastle’s renowned Biscuit Factory. His latest headline exhibition, Knot Twister Prologue, runs from May 16 to July 25, 2025, and showcases a lively mix of original paintings, limited edition prints, and a new series titled Newcastle Bridges. This nostalgic project reimagines Polaroids taken during Moir’s 1990s comedy tour with Reeves and Mortimer, transforming them into delicate watercolours.
It’s a show that blends memory with mischief, and demonstrates how his creativity continues to evolve without losing its distinct flavour.
Back on Screen — And in the Wild
Moir’s birdwatching and painting habits have also found a new outlet on television. Painting Birds with Jim and Nancy Moir, a Sky Arts series co-hosted with his wife, offers an endearing mix of travel, sketching, and gentle humour. Each episode follows the couple as they explore the British countryside in search of birdlife and artistic inspiration. It’s relaxed, funny, and quietly moving, a far cry from the anarchic energy of his early comedy, but just as compelling.
In addition to his TV work, Moir has published several art books, granting fans deeper access to his sketchbooks, ideas, and visual storytelling. These collections reveal the depth and variety of his artistic vision, one rooted in curiosity and invention.
Painting Without Pretence
While his name still evokes laughs and cult nostalgia, Jim Moir has quietly built a respected career in the visual arts. His work doesn’t rely on statements or manifestos. It’s expressive, funny, technically accomplished, and unashamedly personal.
For Moir, there’s no real divide between being a comic and being an artist. “I don’t differentiate between painting, acting, or comedy,” he explains. “I think everything I do is art.” That ethos, unifying creativity in all its forms, has guided him through decades of evolution, reinvention, and rediscovery.
And it’s clear his artistic star is still rising. With artworks now priced between £300 and £1,250, and a growing number of collectors and galleries paying close attention, his pieces are as likely to be found in stylish living rooms as they are in studio archives. Still, Moir isn’t chasing trends or market hype. He’s painting because he loves it. Because it makes him, and us, smile.
Visit Knot Twister Prologue
If you’re curious to see the world through Jim Moir’s eyes, Knot Twister Prologue at The Biscuit Factory in Newcastle is a must-visit. Featuring original paintings, limited edition prints, and the new Newcastle Bridges series, the exhibition runs from May 16 to July 25, 2025.
The gallery is open daily from 10am to 5pm, offers free admission and parking, and is just a short walk from Newcastle’s city centre.
For more information, call 0191 261 1103 or visit The Biscuit Factory’s website.
Whether you come for the birds, the brushwork, or the brilliant weirdness, one thing’s certain, Jim Moir’s art is anything but ordinary.
