From bird watching to studying and painting them, we are a nation of bird lovers, taking any opportunity to show our passion. We create the right environment for birds in our gardens and in the countryside, we photograph them and we paint them.
We know their names, their habitat and we listen to their songs every morning, every season. Blackbirds, robins, blue tits, magpies, starlings, owls – these are just a few of the nations’ favourite birds that enchant our senses with their songs and colours.
All the way from the ancient times, birds have symbolized freedom, they can bring good omens, they make the transition between life and death, and in many cultures birds are associated with peace (dove), beauty (kingfisher, peacock) and wisdom (owl).
When it comes to visual arts, the real challenge is to capture their plumage and their silhouette whether flying or staying still.
“I mainly paint Wildlife. Through expressive brushstrokes I aim to depict the movement and life that nature has to offer and patterns that are created naturally” says Marie Antoniou who in 2013 won the ‘Best British Bird’ category at the BBC Wildlife Artist of the year for her painting ‘Pigeon Frenzy’.
Watercolour, pencil, oil or mixed media; traditional, expressionist, abstract or contemporary – there are a variety of styles and mediums that artists can choose from to capture wild birds, domestic birds, exotic birds and autochthone birds.
