The Return of the Spoonbill Painting Exhibition is underway at Lotte Mall West Lake Hanoi, showcasing outstanding works by 15 Vietnamese artists in the Children's Picture Book Illustration Project.

The artworks introduced the community, especially children, to the endangered Spoonbill, raising awareness and encouraging them to take action to protect these small but precious birds that are important to the Earth's ecosystem.

The paintings were highly acclaimed by international experts and British publishers. Photo: Nha Nam Company

It's the result of cooperation between Vietnam's Nha Nam Culture and Media JSC and the British Council in Vietnam, in which international experts are involved in teaching participants how to paint for children's books.

This is the first time that Nha Nam Company has organized such a special and free course. This project is the result of more than a year of discussion and planning between Nha Nam Company and leading experts from Simon & Schuster Publishing House (one of the five largest publishing houses in the world) and Pop Up Organization.

It's a project within the UK/Vietnam Season program to celebrate 50 years of diplomatic relations between the UK and Vietnam and 30 years of the British Council in Vietnam.

The exhibition tells the story of the spoonbill, which is in danger of extinction. Photo: Nha Nam Company

According to Dao Phuong Thu, editor of Nha Nam Company, the artists created excellent works that were highly appreciated by international experts and prestigious British publishers. These vivid and emotional paintings have also been shared with international friends through art exhibitions in London and Manchester.

"We hope that this exhibition and project will help Vietnamese artists become more confident in their careers. We want to support the training of a new class of talented artists, not just illustrators, who can also tell stories and create impressive picture books with their own hands that can be published not only in Vietnam but also around the world," Thu said.

The exhibition runs until December 29 at Lotte Mall West Lake Hanoi, 272 Vo Chi Cong Street, Hanoi.

The paintings are also displayed at the Royal Over-Seas League in London from November 24 to December 3, and at the Vertical Gallery of Manchester School of Art at Manchester Metropolitan University from December 11 to January 7.