A portrait of a peregrine | my painting story

This is the story of a new original acrylic painting inspired by watching peregrine falcons on live nest cameras at Salt End Chemical Park in Hull. Footage from this camera is streamed via wifi to my art studio more than 50 miles away and over the years I have watched the story unfold as this formidable peregrine pair raise three generations of chicks from their vantage point, high on a 100ft cooling tower that dominates the industrial park's unyielding landscape.

The female is a very regal looking bird with a steady, direct gaze. In my latest painting, one of many inspired by these cameras, I wanted to capture the intense way she looks at me when I'm photographing her in my hide. That 'glance' seemed to me an iconic 'peregrine' pose and so that is what I focused on in this painting. Watch the clip below to see the bird in her setting and how she inspired me to pick up my paintbrushes!

https://youtu.be/R9lr0kHVR8Q

Click on the image to play

My Finished Portrait

 

Read More: 

See more paintings inspired by the Salt End Peregrine project here: 

https://www.robertefuller.com/filming-a-peregrine-falcon-nest-in-an-extreme-zone/

 

Read all about the Salt End Peregrines here:

https://www.robertefuller.com/the-peregrines-of-salt-end-a-history/

Pick up the latest from the Salt End Nest Camera diary here: 

https://www.robertefuller.com/salt-end-peregrines-2020-stories-from-a-live-peregrine-nest-camera/