Young Buck

Description

A Peak District Deer Encounter

White Edge in the Peak District is one of the best spots near Sheffield for watching red deer, especially in autumn when the rut is approaching. We made a dedicated trip out to see them in 2025 and spent a good hour just observing. We were closer than we’d been on previous visits, but the deer were completely unfazed – going about their business while we watched.

This young buck caught my eye. He wasn’t one of the big dominant stags, but there was something about his alertness that I wanted to paint.

Photographing Red Deer

Getting close to red deer in the Peak District is always a bit hit and miss. Some days they’re skittish and keep their distance, other days – like this one – they’re relaxed enough that you can observe them properly. The midday light in autumn gave me a clear, even view of this buck, and I was able to get some good reference shots during that hour we spent with the herd.

Red deer are the UK’s largest land mammal and have roamed the Peak District for thousands of years. The population around White Edge and Longshaw Estate is well established, and autumn is the best time to see them as the males become more active and visible in the lead-up to the rut.

The Painting Process

Working in my Sheffield home studio, I created this piece in a single painting session using oils on an 8 × 8 inch Ampersand Gessobord panel. I went deliberately loose with this one, using palette knife work throughout – including scraping with the tip of the knife to draw a variety of marks into the wet paint.

The biggest decision was leaving out the body entirely. The angle of the body didn’t work with the composition, so I let the neck dissolve into the background instead. I think it gives the painting more focus on the head and expression, and the loose edges keep things from feeling overworked.

You can watch the painting process here on Instagram.

Framed or Unframed

Choose framed at checkout 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 floats inside the frame rather than sitting flush against it. That adds about 12mm to each side. A flush mount is already fitted to the back for hanging.

If you would rather choose your own framing, 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: 8 × 8 inches (~ 20 × 20 cm)
• Depth: 0.3 cm (~ 1/8 inch)
• Available framed or unframed
• Framed size: approximately 22.7 × 22.7 cm (~ 9 × 9 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.