Red Deer in Cheshire

I couldn't resist taking the family to see the red deer at the National Trust's Lyme Park during a visit to see some friends in Cheshire this weekend.

This is definitely a spot to revisit during the rut later this year. The moorland backdrop is spectacular and will look stunning in a composition. I painted the stag above in the Highlands.

Warts and all

I painted this last month as a gift for someone and it was a delight to do so as I've always wanted to create a composition featuring these characterful creatures.

Funnily enough I first came up with the idea for the composition some 20 years ago on my very fist trip to the African continent. I was on an unscheduled and, as I discovered later, somewhat kamakazi walk along the Zambezi river, when I first encountered warthogs and the idea struck. 

Whilst I tried to get some photographic studies to make my idea a reality, I got a little too close to a warthog and ended up being thrown into some bushes by a bad tempered female - much to the amusement of my wife!

I wrote about the experience in my Yorkshire Post column at Christmas and my article made the front cover!

Adorable badger cubs playing as they head out with mum

The way these badger cubs playfully chase each other round and round as they muck about outside the entrance to their sett is adorable - I think you'll agree!
I filmed them last April after waiting patiently in my hide for days at a time to see their first steps into the world.
I went on to photograph them throughout the year, from these first moments as they appear with their mother and on to their solo outings as they matured.
The photographs will provide studies for a new painting I am planning.
As they grew they became so accustomed to my presence that I have even been able to encourage one female to eat from my hand! Watch this space for new paintings as I gather together all my studies for a new composition!

Sparrowhawks: Love or Hate?

Love them or hate them, you have to admire sparrowhawks for their lightening speed and superior skill as hunters.

I've been studying one for a painting and I have mixed feelings about it when it takes birds from my garden. Read about my efforts to get it to comply as a painting model in the Yorkshire Post.

A prickly painting model

Remember the hedgehog I rescued last winter? I grew so fond of him I decided to put him to work as a model. 

This painting of him posing in a bed of autumn leaves was the centrepiece of my Christmas exhibition. I like my paintings to reflect the connections that I will have established between myself and the animal or bird portrayed - I certainly got to know this little chap very well - even after he had been released back into the wild I was painting his spines.

The average hedgehog has over 7,000 so it was a painstaking, though loving, process! Read about my the experience in the Ryedale Gazette & Herald this week and in the Yorkshire Post last month.

Fledged

This is one of several new paintings that left the gallery to be hung in their new homes this week. I shall miss them!

A bear for Pudsey

I'm auctioning this limited edition print today for BBC Children in Need.

If you want to win this print of a European brown bear place your bids by commenting below. The auction is also running on my Facebook page where at this moment in time it has already earned £150.
Keep the bids coming.....