Description
First Kingfisher
Kingfishers are one of the most striking birds in the UK — the vivid turquoise and orange plumage is unlike anything else on a British waterway. Despite this, they can be difficult to spot: they tend to sit low and still above water and move fast when they do. The best chance of seeing one is near slow-moving, clear water with open margins. I had been trying to photograph one for months, including along Sheffield’s river corridors — the Porter Valley and Rivelin Valley are plausible spots — without success.
Male kingfishers can be identified by the beak: males have an entirely black lower mandible, while females have an orange-red base. This was a male.
Janet Kear Hide, Martin Mere
We were visiting Martin Mere WWT reserve in Lancashire in summer 2025 and were on our way out when we decided to try one more hide. Martin Mere’s Janet Kear hide — named after Janet Kear, an ornithologist and WWT researcher — overlooks a stretch of water that can hold kingfishers. The bird appeared almost immediately after we sat down. I had time for one photograph before it moved on. It wasn’t perfect, but I was happy with it.
The Painting Process
Working in my Sheffield home studio, I completed this piece in a single painting session using oils on a 6 × 6 inch Ampersand Gessobord panel. Kingfisher plumage is complex — the iridescent blue-green of the back shifts with the angle of the light, and capturing that quality in oils on a small panel requires careful colour mixing and layering.
Original Artwork Details
This original oil painting is unframed, allowing you to choose framing that complements your interior. For advice on framing please refer to How to Frame a Painting on a Panel.
Specifications:
- Medium: Oil on gessobord panel
- Size: 6 × 6 inches (~ 15 × 15 cm)
- Depth: 0.3 cm (~ 1/8 inch)
- Unframed
- Year: 2025
- Signed on reverse
Shipping & Care
Your painting will be carefully packaged with protective materials and shipped via Royal Mail within 3-5 business days. The panel is robust and archival – oil paintings on panel have been proven to last for centuries when properly cared for. Display away from direct sunlight and extreme humidity for best longevity.
Reviews
There are no reviews yet