Birds and North East Bird Club Locations
The Artist’s Perspective
I am almost always asked when presenting watercolours to patrons, how the composition came about, my inspirations and creative design concept. In the case of this watercolour, termed a composite or montage, the answers are simple. Recent years have seen an increase in commissions to paint montages, usually a series of studies found within the enclaves of great estates such as walled garden corners, potting sheds and the like. With this notion in mind and when considering the varied locations and birds enjoyed since the foundation of the NENBC, the stage was set for a challenge. So, what to paint?
The initial process was certainly initiated by the ‘ten questions and ten best birds’ put to me as part of the bird club’s ten-year anniversary process. From here, I found myself reminiscing about various sightings, with locations, field craft, anticipation, seasons, light and camaraderie all rolled into one. Here is a resumé of how each vignette emerged in a clockwise rotation. The locations and birds were sketched from life or from my own resources.
Weybourne Mill and Pink Footed Geese
We eagerly await the lifting of the sugar beet crops at Weybourne each winter and the arrival of the vast skeins of Pinkfeet that consume the beet chips left by the harvester. I chose the iconic windmill as a prominent feature.
Felbrigg Park Little Owl
I discovered this viewpoint when on a club walk, realising that the wall leading to the lake creates a wonderful perspective. With yellow eyes, little owl always appears to me as rather fierce, hence the turned head and piercing stare.
West Runton Ring Ouzel
It has become obvious over the years that the horse paddocks at this location have become as ‘hot spot’ for the Spring arrival of this dashing, charismatic species. Often encountered as a glimpse in some remote moorland ravine or when wildly departing in the Autumn, to be able to observe groups of ouzels offering good views while quietly feeding is a joy.
Weybourne Camp Wheatear
Here’s a classic case of ‘why paint something rare?’ I always eagerly anticipate the first arrival of this species and always gravitate to this location to find one.
Happisburgh Shorelarks
Happisburgh is one of my favourite locations, a constant source of inspiration due to the ever-changing landscape brought about by rapid coastal erosion. The choice of species here was a tricky one when considering scarce migrants recorded here such as Richard’s pipits and red breasted flycatcher in 2024. My observations of shore larks here were so enjoyable and being such a striking species, it easily finds itself on the list.
Sheringham Purple Sandpiper
As suitable rocky habitat for this species is rather limited on the Norfolk coast, visiting birders from far and wide make their annual pilgrimage to find the wintering purple sandpipers below the Crown Inn. I enjoy the way in which they unobtrusively potter about among the turnstones whilst feeding on the rock algae.
Pigney’s Wood Sedge Warbler
Blythe’s reed warbler could have been an appropriate vignette for this location as a well watched individual frequented the sallows by my chosen viewpoint in 2020. However, the rattling song and precocious ‘show off’ April sedge warbler simply couldn’t be ignored!
Kelling Heath Turtle Dove
Flocks of turtle doves arriving on the Lincolnshire coast and the constant summer ‘purring song’ emanating from many a blackthorn copse, are now but childhood memories. In honour of Operation Turtle Dove and the efforts of landowners and conservationists, I derived great pleasure in making this composition.
Trimingham Bee Eaters
Although prominent position for this painting was hotly contested, with peregrine falcon perhaps warranting the ‘top spot’, the joyous occasion afforded to the club and wider public by two consecutive yearly visits by this species created an irresistible centrepiece. I sketched the quarry roadway and old nest site to complete the collection.
Love these paintings?
The montage is available as a print to buy online here.
A set of ten greetings cards featuring all of the paintings above and including an additional card not featured in the montage (Leach's Petrel, Sheringham) is available here.
Leach's Petrel, Sheringham
Additional painting featured in the set of 10 Greetings Cards.