Stripe

Description

A Sheffield Garden Regular

Every garden has its characters, and in ours, the undisputed star is a robin we’ve come to know well. He visits most days, hopping confidently around the borders and perching beside the pond — often coming remarkably close when we’re outside. What sets him apart is a striking white stripe at the base of his wings, a subtle marking that gives him an unmistakable identity amongst the other birds that pass through.

The reference photograph for this painting was taken on a December lunchtime, with the robin stationed in his usual spot beside the garden pond. The soft midday light of a Sheffield winter picked out the warmth of his breast and the crisp detail of that characteristic stripe.

Sheffield’s Favourite Bird

Robins hold a special place in British culture, consistently voted the nation’s favourite bird, and Sheffield is no exception. The city’s generous mix of parks, gardens, and green corridors running into the Peak District provides ideal robin habitat year-round. Unlike many songbirds, robins sing through the winter months — their melancholy, silvery song is one of the few to break the silence of a cold Sheffield morning. They are famously bold and territorial, readily approaching gardeners and photographers alike, which makes them wonderful — if sometimes impatient — subjects.

The Painting Process

Working in my Sheffield home studio, I created this piece in a single painting session using oils on a 6×6 inch Ampersand Gessobord panel. My aim was to capture the warmth and confidence of this particular robin, so I used a palette knife in places to bleed some of the bright orange of the breast feathers outward into the surrounding atmosphere. This technique softens the boundary between bird and background, giving the piece a sense of warmth and energy that feels true to how vivid robins appear in life — especially against the muted tones of a December garden.

Original Artwork Details

This original oil painting is available for purchase, sold unframed to allow you to choose framing that complements your interior. For advice on framing please refer to How to Frame a Painting on a Panel. Prints are also available on request — please get in touch for details.

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.