9 Natural Treasures Celebrated in Art

This new collection of fine art paintings celebrates Britain's natural heritage. People travel the world to see wildlife but hidden in our countryside are some of the most beautiful creatures. I've picked out nine paintings of animals that I want to shine because I believe they are natural treasures.

1. Natural Treasure| The Robin

Title: Robin on Hawthorn
Image Size: 12.25" x 9.25"
Medium: Oil Paint

Inspiration: Voted the British public's favourite bird, the robin is a national symbol and one of our most cherished natural treasures. I chose to use hawthorn berries in this composition because of the way the bright pillar box red of the berries contrasted with the more orange breast on the robin. These colours brighten up any winter day.

Available as a limited edition print here | Click here to read the story behind the painting

2. Natural Treasure | The Red Stag

natural wildlife treasure in art red stag

Title: Red Stag
Image: Size: 22" x 15.7"
Medium: Oil Paint

Inspiration: Red stags are magnificent beasts. Almost regal, they are naturally one of my natural treasures. I chose to compose this painting with the stag posed against the Scottish landscape to infer how this beast really is king of the glens!

Available as a limited edition print here | Click to read the story behind the painting

3. Natural Treasure| The Barn Owl

Title: Barn Owl on Lookout
Image size: 26.25" x 17.25"
Medium: Acrylic Paint

Inspiration: There is nothing more magical than the sight of a barn owl gliding over grasslands - a definite treasure! I painted this in acrylics using muted colours for my backdrop. To give the effect of the long grass I actually taped some grass stems onto my board and airbrushed around them so that when I took the stems away it left the colour below. I also painted some grass stems in for detail.

Available as a limited edition print here | Click to read the story behind the painting

4. Natural Treasure| The Hare

Title: Hare Stretch
Image Size: 61" x 19"
Medium: Oil Paint

Inspiration: Hares are magical to watch. When you come across one loping along a country lane it can feel like a real privilege - a gem of a natural treasure. I’ve endured the icy winds of Antarctica in order to photograph wildlife for my paintings. But nothing in that cold climate compares to my ordeal of watching courting hares on the Yorkshire Wolds one Christmas. This painting was inspired by the experience.

Available as a limited edition print here | Click here to read the story behind this painting

5. Natural Treasure| The Kingfisher

Title: Kingfisher Winter Watcher
Image Size: 7.5" x 10.75"
Medium: Acrylic Paint

Inspiration: The electric blue of a kingfisher ensures this exotic looking bird's spot as a true treasure. This painting was inspired by an incredible experience watching a pair throughout their fascinating courtship process and then – via a specially adapted hide – seeing them lay their eggs underground. Kingfishers are solitary birds, unless courting, and I wanted this winter scene to reflet this fact.

Available as a limited edition print here | Click here to read the story behind the painting

6. Natural Treasure | The Red Squirrel

Title: Squirrel Nutkin
Image Size: 10.5" x 13.50"
Medium: Oil Paint

Inspiration: A rare sight here in England, the red squirrel is a natural treasure that needs to be valued. The contrast of burnished-gold against a snow-white inspired me to capture this scene in a painting. I was also moved by the endearing way red squirrels hold nuts in their front paws.

Available as a limited edition print here | Click here for the story behind the painting

7. Natural Treasure | The Peregrine Falcon

Title: Glance of a Peregrine
Image Size: 14.75" x 9.25"
Medium: Acrylic

Inspiration: The fastest birds in the world, peregrine falcons are impressive birds that surely need to be treasured. I've been watching a pair raise four chicks on an industrial site run by Vivergo Fuels at Salt End Chemical Park in Hull. This is the female. She has a very steady gaze. I wanted to capture the intense way she looks at me when I'm in my hide, high on a 100ft cooling tower.

Click here for more about this original painting | Click here to read the story behind the painting

8. Natural Treasure | The Badger

Title: Badger on the Lookout
Image Size: 10.5" x 15.50"
Medium: Oil Paint

Inspiration: Badgers have a history of persecution that makes their story a sad one. I hope my paintings highlight how beautiful they are and show how much they deserve to be cherished as natural treasures. I built a hide overlooking a badger sett close to my home on the Yorkshire Wolds and I watch them every night. I've come to know each badger in the sett by sight - and they have accepted me as one of their own. I've painted many of their portraits.

Available as a limited edition print here | Click here for the story behind the painting

9. Natural Treasure|The Weasel

Title: Two Weasel Kits Branching Out
Image Size: 11" x 8.5"
Medium: Gouache, Acrylic & Pencil

Inspiration: Weasels traditionally have a poor press, but I have studied them closely and I challenge anyone who doesn't think they rank as one of Britain's natural treasures. For their size, they have an admirable tenacity and their characters are actually quite charming. I wanted to capture the playful nature of weasels as well as their phenomenal climbing skills. I had seen these two kits chase one another along this impossibly thin twig. I hadn't realised what incredible poise and balance weasels had until I started watching them closely.

Click here for details and a video of this original painting | Click here for the story behind the painting

My paintings of natural treasures form part of a new exhibition at my gallery from November 9th-December 2nd. Click on the link below for details:

https://www.robertefuller.com/wildlife-art-exhibition-celebrates-britains-natural-treasures/