Description
A winter robin at Lud’s Church
Lud’s Church is a deep, moss-lined rock chasm in the Staffordshire Moorlands, about an hour’s drive from Sheffield. It cuts through the hillside at Black Brook, the walls close enough together that you walk through in single file, and dark enough in winter that you emerge blinking back into ordinary daylight. Some accounts link it to the Green Chapel from Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, though the scholarly consensus on that is looser than the guidebooks imply.
The surrounding area is popular walking country for people from Sheffield and the wider Peak District. The walk to the gorge is straightforward, and the path back to the car park is easy going through open woodland.
The robin
We were on the way back when this one appeared. He was perched in a tree at the side of the path, singing, and watching us with fixed attention. Robins hold territories year-round and sing through winter to defend them, which makes them one of the few British birds you’ll reliably hear in January or February. They also puff their feathers out for insulation in cold weather, which makes them look essentially circular. This one was doing both things at once and didn’t seem particularly interested in moving.
I got the photo and we carried on.
The painting
Working in my Sheffield home studio, I painted this in a single session using oils on a 6×6″ Ampersand Gessobord panel. Robins are a familiar sight for anyone in Sheffield or anywhere else in Britain, but this one had a quality worth painting: that very round winter shape combined with total indifference to being watched. He looked like he owned the path. The small format keeps the focus on the bird rather than the surroundings.
Original artwork details
This original oil painting is available for purchase 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: 2026
- 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.
Recently my dad passed away and he loved birds and particularly robins. I’ve often looked at Dan’s artwork as I love birds too.
This beautiful painting is going to my dad’s wife Jennie in memory of him.
I truly love it