This year has been full of birds. In Scotland, it's been seabirds and eagles on the isles of Mull and Erraid, and the wonderful Treshnish Islands. In Northumberland it's been the curlews and lapwings of the Pennines and dabchicks and coots on a secret lake in the woods. Since I got a telescope in the spring new worlds have opened, and the challenge of painting moving birds at a distance through a scope has captured me. I have to sit patiently and then work fast. I'm a beginner birdwatcher, so every experience is exciting, every encounter full of wonder.
During October I'll be working with Sue Dunne, a ceramicist, at the Caerlaverock Wildfowl and Wetland centre as Artists in Residence. We'll use this wonderful opportunity to explore ways of recording and painting the huge abundance and variety of birdlife on the reserve, and the work will result in an exhibition there in January and February 2007. As part of our residency we'll facilitate a "Big Draw" event at the end of the month.
As well as birds, I've painted a series of acrylics based on a lane nearby in the abundance of June, and over the Winter, if there is any time left, I'll be embarking on a series of paintings of cows - mostly rare breeds.