The Birds

This series of paintings started in early summer 2025 after a chance encounter with James Robson at Birdworld in Farnham. That meeting sparked an idea: what if I made a series of paintings based on birds from the park’s collection and incorporated atmospheric landscape? 

Landscape has always been a constant in my work, but putting the bird at the centre of each painting opened up new possibilities. It allowed me to explore a range of landscapes while using the bird as the focal point. The colours, contrasts and character each bird brings offered ways of pushing the paintings beyond simple illustration. 

By drawing on the birds’ natural habitats and environments, the paintings create small narratives — sometimes playful, sometimes more thoughtful. Alongside this, there are a few less obvious influences running through the series, from Degas’ dancers and classical painting to French taxidermy.