Hawfinches & Winter Thrushes

Print details:

Paper size: 330 x 510mm
Image size: 200 x 440mm
Edition size: 350

With stern expressions and beaks that can crush cherry stones, these stocky finches are full of character and a delight to draw.

They are normally very shy and prefer to keep to the upper canopy, but at this paddock in the New Forest they would come down to feed on fallen beech mast alongside fieldfares and redwings.

I had never seen hawfinches next to thrushes before and was surprised at how big they were.

Long shadows from the beech trees that bordered the paddock fell in stripes of cool greens across the turf, and in the golden light of late afternoon the birds glowed with colours echoed in the fallen beech leaves.

Original painted in oils on board.