Opened in 1988, Nature in Art is the world's first museum dedicated exclusively to fine, decorative and applied art inspired by nature. Currently its growing collection spans 1,500 years with work from over 50 countries by more than 600 artists. It includes a broad range of styles and media, periods and cultures and presents its paintings in the context of a wide range of other nature inspired items. The changing displays encourage visitors to cultivate an appreciation and understanding of the diversity of art inspired by nature. Oil and acrylic paintings are not just wildlife art or illustration. Works by Joseph Wolf, David Shepherd and Peter Markham Scott, for example, are shown beside more abstract works (Michael Porter, Nicholas Jones etc), and in the company of other media such as watercolours (Archibald Thorburn etc.), prints (Pablo Picasso etc) and sculpture. Aiding interpretation is a comprehensive programme of artists in residence which usually features over 40 painters each year.