What a year it’s been! This time last year, it was our last week of ‘normal’ and we had no idea what lay ahead. With a full and exciting year of events and exhibitions planned, I had just set up my biggest ever solo exhibition at WWT London Wetland Centre, ‘Feathered Friends’ – I was raring to go!
Little did we know….one by one, every single exhibition would be cancelled.
Despondency set in. Painting slowed down and eventually, like everything else in lockdown, ground to a halt.
Thankfully, there was a ‘bright side’. The sun shone! I enjoyed my garden and found myself watching and photographing all the garden birds. Each day, I spent my one hour of allowed exercise walking my dog ‘up the hill’ and used this time to indulge in bird watching and photography.

Woodpecker1

Woodpecker2

Woodpecker baby
I discovered a Great Spotted Woodpecker nest which I followed with great interest throughout the Spring and was over the moon to actually see one of the youngsters fledge.
After the excitement of fledging, I didn’t see the Woodpeckers again, so I focused my camera on mini-beasts.

ladybird

Bee
Over the year, I’ve gathered some wonderful photos that I know will lead to new paintings, in fact I’m already working on a new series of feather paintings based on some of the birds I saw during lockdown.

Goldfinch

kestrel
I’m almost afraid to mention this next bit, but with fingers and toes crossed I am tentatively hopeful that a joint exhibition ‘The Beauty Of Nature In Glass And Feathers’ organised with my artist friend, David that was unfortunately postponed twice during lockdown may actually go ahead in April. Will it be 3rd time lucky? Time will tell…
All being well, we look forward to sharing our latest work with you at The Secret Gallery, Newent, Gloucester from April 13th – May 1st 2021. I am happy to say, my painting mojo is back in full force – I have lots of new feather paintings underway as I type…!