Spirit of the Harvest: New Global Food Paintings by John Dyer at the Eden Project

EDEN PROJECT, CORNWALL — Opening this autumn half-term, the Eden Project presents 'Spirit of the Harvest', a major painting exhibition by acclaimed British artist John Dyer, celebrating three of the world’s staple food crops and the communities that grow them.

This major public exhibition runs from 24 October 2025 – 9 February 2026, the exhibition begins the celebrations to mark 25 years of both the Eden Project and Dyer’s role as its Artist in Residence, uniting art, ecology and global storytelling in one landmark display.

“Rice, potatoes and bananas connect every culture on Earth. Painting them for the UN’s Years of Rice and Potato showed me how these crops hold our shared story — where art, people and plants meet.”

John Dyer, Artist in Residence, Eden Project

The entire Link Building between the Rainforest and Mediterranean Biomes has been painted a deep earthy terracotta, creating a dramatic backdrop for Dyer’s vibrant canvases. Alongside each painting, key plant panels explore the botany, heritage and sustainability of the crops that feed the world — rice, bananas and potatoes — linking Eden’s scientific mission with the emotional language of art.

A Global Story of Plants and People in Paint — From 2003 to 2025

At the heart of the exhibition are four new large-scale 35.5 × 35.5 inch paintings that celebrate the planet’s three major staple crops: rice, banana and potato. These new works are shown alongside en plein air paintings created during John Dyer’s global expeditions to Peru (2003), Costa Rica (2003 & 2005) and the Philippines (2004) — journeys made in collaboration with the Eden Project, the United Nations and the International Year of Rice and Potato initiatives.

Together, these pieces form a vivid and historically significant body of work spanning more than two decades, charting Dyer’s long-term commitment to documenting humanity’s relationship with food, farming and nature. The result is a colour-filled visual record of the global harvest — a story of connection, culture and care.

“Spirit of the Harvest tells a story that began over twenty years ago,” says John Dyer. “Painting in Peru, Costa Rica and the Philippines changed how I saw our planet — how food and community bind us all. These new canvases bring that journey full circle.”

Editorial Food Perfection

Vibrant and full of narrative energy, these food-themed paintings are ideal for editorial features on sustainability, interiors, travel, culture and lifestyle. Their bold colours and optimistic tone bring warmth and authenticity to any page or screen. From tropical banana plantations in Costa Rica to Andean potato harvests in Peru and Philippine rice terraces shimmering at dusk, each painting tells a universal story of people, plants and place. Perfect for feature spreads, green-living articles, kitchen and dining styling, cultural travel pieces or art-led gift guides, 'Spirit of the Harvest' provides editors with ready-made visuals that celebrate beauty, biodiversity and the shared joy of food.

An Artist for the Earth with Earth Day

Recognised internationally as an Official Artist for the Earth with EarthDay.org (USA), John Dyer is also the founder of LastChanceToPaint.com — the UK’s leading eco-art education project for children. Through this pioneering initiative, he connects each year over 50,000 young people worldwide with endangered ecosystems and Indigenous communities through painting and storytelling.

Dyer’s work — joyful, human and deeply connected to nature — continues Cornwall’s artistic legacy of colour, light and environmental awareness.

“John’s art perfectly captures Eden’s mission — to connect people with plants and the living world through creativity and wonder. The Link Building’s terracotta walls and paintings create a warm, immersive experience that bridges art and science.”

For Collectors

All paintings from Spirit of the Harvest are available exclusively through the John Dyer Gallery, each signed, archived with full provenance and accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity. Free worldwide delivery is included. Purchasing directly supports Dyer’s ongoing environmental and educational projects.

Exhibition Details

Exhibition: Spirit of the Harvest – Paintings by John Dyer

Venue: Eden Project, Cornwall (edenproject.com)

Dates: 24 October 2025 – 9 February 2026

Artist: John Dyer – Eden Project Artist in Residence, Official Artist for the Earth (EarthDay.org)

Theme: Global Crops & the Shared Spirit of the Earth

View exhibition: https://johndyergallery.com/collections/spirit-of-the-harvest-eden-project-exhibition

Press Images & Downloads: Press Loft | John Dyer Gallery

About John Dyer

John Dyer is one of Cornwall’s most celebrated contemporary painters, renowned for his colour-saturated canvases that capture the energy of life and landscape. His paintings are held in major public and private collections worldwide. As Eden’s Artist in Residence for 25 years and an Official Artist for the Earth, Dyer uses art as a tool for connection — between people, culture and planet.