Red Stag

Description

Red Stag, White Edge, Peak District

Red deer are the largest wild land animal in the UK. The males — stags — are most visible during the autumn rut, when they compete for females through displays of size, sound, and occasional confrontation. The roar of a rutting stag carries across open moorland, and the sight of a large herd in late afternoon light is one of the more dramatic wildlife encounters available in northern England. Sheffield’s neighbouring national park, the Peak District, supports a resident red deer population, and White Edge near Longshaw is a reliable spot during the autumn season.

White Edge, Longshaw

We were walking at White Edge in autumn 2025 when we spotted a single stag from a distance. We thought that was our lot, and it would have been a good result. Then we came around a bend and found a herd of around 30. The biggest stag — this one — stood his ground and faced us for a while before leading the herd away down the hillside. The light was good, and I came away with the reference I needed. White Edge is within easy reach of Sheffield, and the Longshaw Estate is one of the more accessible spots in the Peak District for seeing red deer during the rut.

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. The antlers and the texture of the coat require careful work at this scale — it is a pretty detailed subject for a small panel.

Framed or Unframed

Choose the framed option and it arrives ready to hang. The frame is natural ayous, a pale, lightweight hardwood, with a 7mm face and 21mm depth. The panel sits inside it with a 5mm gap all round, so the painted edge of the panel stays visible and the picture appears to float inside the frame rather than sitting against it. A flush mount is already fitted to the back for hanging.

If you would rather choose your own frame, you can buy it unframed. For advice please refer to How to Frame a Painting on a Panel.

Original Artwork Details

Specifications:

• Medium: Oil on gessobord panel
• Size: 6 × 6 inches (~ 15 × 15 cm)
• Depth: 0.3 cm (~ 1/8 inch)
• Available framed or unframed
• Framed size: approximately 17.6 × 17.6 cm (~ 7 × 7 inches)
• Frame: natural ayous, 7mm face, 21mm depth, 5mm float gap, flush mount fitted
• 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.