Paintings inspired by wildlife in spring

I hope you enjoy my collection of paintings inspired by wildlife in spring time. I spend many hours following the secret lives of animals to capture the individual character of each of my animal subjects. If anything catches your eye, why not read the story behind the painting.

Click here to meet the wildlife models that inspired these paintings

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Swallow fledglings

Swallow Fledglings | Limited Edition Print | Available Here

This painting was inspired by the swallows that nest in my garden and I am sharing it in celebration of World Migratory Bird Day today. It's quite incredible to think these birds fly 6,000 miles each year to breed here! 

Penguin painting

We Three Kings | Limited Edition Print | Available Here

I painted this following a trip to South Georgia in the Antarctic. The king penguins I saw really did look regal as they stepped across the sands in unison. It's as if they too knew they were posing for their paintings. Click here to read more

Little owl artwork

Inquisitive Little Owl | Limited Edition Print | Available Here

Little owls are one of my favourite owls to watch. There's something so comical about their huge staring eyes and stern expressions. I have painted them many times over the years and am now busy working on a new project to watch them at their nest site close to my home in Thixendale. Read more and see the photos.

Kestrel portrait

Mrs Kes Guarding her Nest | Original Acrylic Painting | Available Here

Fotherdale's resident kestrel, Mrs Kes, was the first bird to lay eggs on my live cameras this year so I thought her portrait deserved highlighting this week. The painting was inspired by the way she bravely fought off tawny owl and jackdaw raids on her nest last year and I deliberately posed her standing at the entrance to her nest, which is something she is doing a lot at the moment as she guards the eggs inside. Read more about this formidable bird here.

Leveret portrait

Portrait of a Leveret | Limited Edition Print | Available Here

This portrait was inspired by watching a leveret in woodland close to my art studio. Hares hide their young to keep them safe from predators and only visit once a day, usually at dusk, to feed them. These visits are so secretive it is exceptional to be able to watch them. Read my blog post on the time I was lucky enough this special wildlife moment. 

Leverets artwork

Leverets at Givendale | Limited Edition Print | Available to Buy Here

I've been watching a young leveret in the car park of my gallery this week and have captured some absolutely gorgeous footage of it grooming it's enormous back paws. The experience reminded me of the time I watched these two at my childhood home in Givendale.

Inspired by spring

Celebrate the first day of spring with this painting of a wren singing it's heart out from the branches of a cherry tree. Feels symbolic of hope in this time!

Cuckoo portrait

Mother's Day reminds me of an incredible experience watching a reed warbler tricked into raising a cuckoo chick twice its size. As I watched the tiny bird run itself ragged trying to keep up with the cuckoo's demands, I remember being struck by how strong the instinct to nurture. Click here to read the story.

Inspired by nesting birds

Long Tailed Tit With Wool | Limited Edition Print | Available to Buy Here

This is an old painting that has been very popular. I painted it after watching a pair of long tailed tits busily build their nest. They gathered wool, moss, and even cobwebs from the garden and surrounding fields and then stitched together a beautiful dome shaped nest out of it. I was captivated by the skill involved! Read the story behind the painting.