'This sumptuous book, written by ornithological research scientist and natural history author Penny Olsen, celebrates the life and work of natural history artist, William T. Cooper (1934–2015), described by David Attenborough in his ‘Foreword’ as ‘arguably one of the greatest of all bird artists’ (2014: viii). This is a big claim, since Attenborough includes Cooper among the significant bird artists of the past, such as John Gould (1804–81) and John James Audubon (1785–1851), as well as contemporary artists. Does the book validate this assertion?' (Introduction)