My Favourite Birds is a collection of five prints from oil paintings. Birds are fantastic creatures with their infinitely variable plumage and behaviours – I particularly like to see them in the urban environment. Whether you are a bird lover or just a general admirer (as I am) it’s always nice to have a vibrant piece of art hanging on your wall to remind you of their fantastic presence and idiosyncratic behaviours. Discover the beauty and wonder of the avian world through our stunning collection of bird paintings. Each piece is expertly crafted to capture the essence and personality of each bird, making them the perfect addition to any home or office. Whether you're a nature enthusiast, or just appreciate beautiful art, our prints are sure to bring joy and inspiration to your space. Limited edition prints are available for each painting, so don't miss out on the opportunity to own a piece of nature's magic. Join our community of art lovers today and receive exclusive updates and promotions. Shop now and experience the wonder of birds in a whole new way Select Store from main menu.
Oil on canvas 30x 40 cm. NFS. The goldfinch is a popular garden bird. I decide this one needed a more colourful background - inspired by the Scottish Colourists.
Scottish ColouristsOil on canvas 61 x 46 cm. Framed £530 (free UK shipping). The only penguin species that breeds during the Antarctic winter, emperor penguins trek 50–120 km (31–75 miles) over the ice to breeding colonies which can contain up to several thousand individuals. Life span can range from 20-50 years.
Wikipedia linkOil on canvas 50 x 50 cm framed in private collection. A front view of our largest wading bird with a twist.
RSPBFramed oil on canvas 40 x 30 cm £350 (free UK shipping). I used to think I saw the same Robin each year on my allotment. An expert informed me that they rarely live beyond 18 months and it is most likely its offspring. Robins often follow in gardeners footstep taking advantage of unearthed insects and worms. In europe they tend to following pigs footsteps. On exhibition at Glasgow Art Club.
WikipediaOil on canvas 60 x 45 cm in private collection. Painted from a photograph in private collection. The curlew is the largest European wading bird, instantly recognisable on winter estuaries and summer moors. Spot the curlew by its long, down-curved bill, brown upperparts, long legs and evocative, bubbling, call. Available as limited edition giclee print. Available in Store as a limited edition signed Giclee print and laser print.
RSPBOil on canvas 40 x 30 cm in private collection. The only penguin species that breeds during the Antarctic winter, emperor penguins trek 50–120 km (31–75 miles) over the ice to breeding colonies which can contain up to several thousand individuals. Life span can range from 20-50 years.
WikipediaFramed oil on canvas 60 x 60 cm in private collection. When I took the photo on which the painting is based I was aiming to capture the promenading of the swans. Later I noticed how the fence cast a 'tartan shadow' on their plumage and set them off nicely.
Victoria Park, GlasgowOil on canvas approx. 76 x 60 cm £380 (free UK shipping) unframed (framing on request). The painting this photo is based on was taken approaching sunset on a beautiful crisp winters day.
Aerial video of Victoria Park in winterOil on canvas 150 x 50 cm POA. From a photo taken by myself. The swan emerges from the lake and into its adult stage. Ice still surrounds the water while gulls casually ignore it.
Mute SwanFramed oil on canvas approx. 50 x 40 cm. £530 free UK shipping. From a photo I took. Previously shown at Glasgow Art Clube. The swans were swimming nicely in formation near sunset but the one on the left just got distracted.
Glasgow Art ClubFramed oil on Canvas 60 x 60 cm in private collection. From a photo I took in Victoria Park Glasgow. The swan sliding ungainly across the ice, appears startled by its own reflection. Like other swans, mute swans are known for their ability to grieve for a lost or dead mate or cygnet. Swans will go through a mourning process, and in the case of the loss of their mate, may either stay where its counterpart lived, or fly off to join a flock. Should one of the pair die while there are cygnets present, the remaining parent will take up their partner's duties in raising the clutch.
Wikipedia LinkFramed oil on Canvas 60 x 45 cm in private collection. Based on sighting of a Kingfisher I saw on the banks of the Kelvin near Kirklee Bridge. The brightness of the colours is neither the product of iridescence or pigments, but is instead caused by the structure of the feathers, which causes scattering of blue light (the Tyndall effect). The kingfishers have excellent vision; they are capable of binocular vision and are thought in particular to have good colour vision. They have restricted movement of their eyes within the eye sockets, instead using head movements to track prey. In addition, they are capable of compensating for the refraction of water and reflection when hunting prey underwater, and are able to judge depth under water accurately. Available in Store as a limited edition Giclee print.
WikipediaFramed oil on Canvas 50 x 40 cm £440 (free UK shippingt). From A photo I took at a museum in Gran Canaria. This is a Macaw which are a group of New World parrots that are long-tailed and colourful. This one, as many of them do, had a swagger to its walk and clearly owned the steps. Now available as a limited edition signed print. See store for details. Available in Store as a Giclee Print
Wikipedia LinkFramed oil on canvas 40 x 30 cm £410 (free UK shipping). The puffins are distinct in their ability to hold several (sometimes over a dozen) small fish at a time, crosswise in their bill, rather than regurgitating swallowed fish. This allows them to take longer foraging trips since they can come back with more food energy for their chick than a bird that can only carry one fish at a time. This behaviour is made possible by the unique hinging mechanism of their beak, which allows the upper and lower biting edges to meet at any of a number of angles.
WikipediaFramed oil on canvas 60x 45 cm in private collection. The contrasting plumage of this pair of mallard ducks is wonderfully displayed as the ducks enjoy a sunny afternoon by the lake. Available in Store as a limited edition signed Giclee print.
Mallard WikipediaFramed oil on canvas 60 x 45 cm in private collection. The curlew is the largest European wading bird, instantly recognisable on winter estuaries and summer moors. Spot the curlew by its long, down-curved bill, brown upperparts, long legs and evocative, bubbling, call. Available in Store as a limited edition signed Giclee print.
Wading birds UKFramed oil on canvas 40 x 30 cm £380 (free UK shipping). From a wildlife photographer whom I will acknowledge when I find the post. I was initially convinced that cuckoo's were raptors. It turns out this is probably an evolution strategy to one discover where target nests are by feigning an attack and two, allow the female to sneak in and lay a single egg. Cuckoos mainly eat caterpillars and other insects. But when the single egg hatches the cuckoo throws the rest of the eggs out of the nest.
CuckooFramed oil on canvas 60 x 45 cm. Previously on exhibition at Glasgow Art Club. £560 free UK shipping. The grey geese stand in formation mimicking their flying formation, having had their fill of apples. Available in Store as a limited edition signed Giclee print.
Glasgow Art ClubFramed. Oil on canvas 40 x 30 cm 350 (free UK shipping). The peregrine is renowned for its speed, reaching over 200 mph during its characteristic hunting high-speed dive, making it the fastest bird in the world, as well as the fastest member of the animal kingdom. On exhibition at Glasgow Art Club.
WikipediaFramed oil on canvas 40 x 30 cm £420 (free UK shipping). One of the most intelligent of birds. Not only have parrots demonstrated intelligence through scientific testing of their language-using ability, but also some species of parrots are also highly skilled at using tools and solving puzzles Unframed £260
WikipediaOil on canvas 61 x 46 cm in private collection. The art deco Beresford building was built as a hotel. The Beresford building is in Sauchiehall Street and was considered Glasgow’s first skyscraper. Painted from a photo I took on a rainy night on the way back from the Art Club opening. Available in store as limited edition signed giclee print.
Herald ArticleFramed oil on canvas 40 x 30 cm. Previously on exhibition at Glasgow Art Club. £450 free UK shipping. Queen's Cross Church is a former Church of Scotland parish church in Glasgow, Scotland. It is the only church designed by Charles Rennie Mackintosh to have been built.
Glasgow Art ClubOil on canvas 60 x 45 cm in private collection. A rear view of the University building designed by Sir Gilbert Scott, a prolific English Gothic Revival architect. Available as limited edition giclee print in store.
WikipediaOil on canvas 61 x 46 cm. £520 free UK shipping Available as limited edition signed glclee prints
Wikipedia LinkFramed oil on canvas 60x 45 cm £440 (free UK shipping). Painted from a photo I took with my brother-in-law Rab and his brother Tam on a trip down memory lane. Tom used to work in the mill which has been converted into flats. Available in Store as a limited edition Giclee print.
Paisley Thread MillsOil on Canvas 60 x 45 cm £380 (free UK shipping) unframed, framing on request. Painted from a photo I took in Paisley on a beautiful winter’s day after Christmas. Paisley Abbey was founded around 1163 by Walter FitzAlan. Much of the original building was destroyed by fire in 1307 and restored during the fourteenth Century. The collapse of the central tower in the mid-16th century destroyed the transepts and choir and a wall was built across the east end of the nave. At the Scottish Reformation in 1560, the monastery was disbanded. The transepts and choir remained in ruins until the late 19th and early 20th centuries when they were restored to create one of the finest churches in Scotland. Available in Store as a limited edition signed Giclee print.
Paisley Abbey WebsiteOil on Canvas 60 x 45 cm £410 (free UK shipping) unframed, framing on request. Painted from a photo I took in Paisley on a beautiful spring day. Another striking church I see on my way to Paisley. The paisley north parish church was built in 1915 by architect T G Abercrombie and was originally known as the Wallneuk North Church. It is made from red sandstone and has a tall tower to the front and a beautiful large window. Available in Store as a singed limited edition Giclee print.
Paisley North ChurchOil on Canvas 60 x 50 cm £460 (free UK shipping). Painted from a photo I took in Paisley on a crisp autumn day. I watched the progress of this renovation week by week of this spectacular building. Now finding a new lease of life as a multipurpose building. Available as a signed limited edition giclee print from the Store.
Coats Memorial Church PaisleyOil on Canvas 60 x 50 cm £460 (free UK shipping). Painted from a photo I took in Paisley on a beautiful winter’s day after Christmas and a recent downpour. This captures the newly completed external renovations from the front. It is being converted into a centre for the performing arts. I hope the beer festival returns to this venue. Available in Store as a limited edition signed Giclee print.
Wikipedia LinkOil on canvas 150 x 50 cm POA. This is painted from a photo I took from a scheduled flight returning home to Glasgow. The snow and shadows bring out the best of the Red Road Flats. I lived there for two years. The flats were all demolished by 2015. Painted partially as a counter-point to the famous 'Windows in the West' by Avril Paton. Now available as a signed limited edition Giclee print. See Store from main menu for details. This painting will be exhibited at the Glasgow Art Club as an entry to the Scottish Fine Art Prize from October 7th.
Wikipedia Red Road FlatsOil on Canvas 100 cm x100 cm £610 free UK shipping unframed. The scene is based on the life guard tower at Funchal Madeira with its black volcanic sand.
MadeiraOil on Canvas 60 x 51 cm £500 (free UK shipping) unframed, framing available on request. A tranquil setting near sunset on a beautiful Spanish beach.
Locaation and historyFramed oil on canvas 60 x 50 cm £450 (free UK shipping). Kelvin Stevenson Memorial Church, Belmont Street, Glasgow. Fine church with four point open crown tower designed by John James Stevenson. Available as a limited edition Giclee print. See store from main menu for details.
Discover GlasgowFramed oil on Canvas 50 x 40 cm. Previously on exhibition at Glasgow Art Club. £450 free UK shipping. Painted from a photo taken by myself about 30 years ago. Available as a limited edition Giclee print. See store from main menu for details.
Glasgow Art ClubOil on canvas. 91 x 91 cm £520 (free UK shipping) unframed. This is my first lockdown painting. It's based on a photo I took many years ago at what is now North Kelvin Meadow. I wanted to get the atmosphere of both isolation and community.
North Kelvin MeadowOil on canvas 100 x 100 cm in private collection. This was painted from I photo I took outside the Cafe Andaluz on Vinicombe Street one cold winter's evening. The cafe's light brightly illuminating the skylight.
Cafe AndaluzOil on canvas 150 x 100 cm NFS. Winner of Paisley Art Institute William and Mary Armour Award 2019. This large painting is based on a photo I took in Cairns, Australia. These saltwater crocodiles are truly amazing creatures. They can live for 70 years, grow up to six metres, can go for 18 months without food and have been around for approximately 8 million years.
Saltwater CrocodileOil on canvas 61 x 45 cm £440 (free UK shipping) unframed, framing available on request. I was on my way to try and find an obscure stone circle in Scotland. On the way I came across these rather indignant looking cows.
CattleOil on canvas 51 x 40 cm in private collection. Painted for a friends' birthday. It is said, “Dogs look up to man. Cats look down to man. Pigs look us straight in the eye and see an equal.”
Domestic PigOil on canvas 150 x 100 cm POA. It depicts a male figure in white trunks swimming breaststroke underwater, and the painter Peter Schlesinger, Hockney's former lover and muse, fully clothed and standing at the edge of the pool looking down at the swimmer. The painting is set in southern France, near Saint-Tropez. The original size is 3 x 2 m and sold for $90M.
Wikipedia LinkOil on canvas 30 x 20 cm £280. This rather large (about 2 cm) unidentified flying object landed on our garden table last summer. The bright green shield bugs appear in April or May, having hibernated as in humus during the winter. They live by eating the sap from within plants in apples and pears. They fatten for a month and then mate ‘back to back’ in June.
WikipediaOil on canvas 60 x 45 cm. In private collection. Frank a great Batman fan, comissioned this portrait of himself as The Joker, one of his favourite villans. All the family were round to see its unvailing - a tense but satisfying moment.
Batman WikipediaOil on Canvas 24 x 18 inches NFS. This was painted from a picture taken in downtown Melbourne on the bus when we were with Sarah in April 2019. 🙃
MelbourneOil on canvas 61 x 61 cm in private collection, This is a portrait for David who is a Staff Nurse on a respiratory ward in the midst of the COVID-19 epidemic. He took a selfie after a hard shift and the painting is based on that photo. Painted in lockdown.
Corona Virus Map ScotlandOil on canvas approx 80 x 60 cm £480 (free UK shipping) unframed, framing available on request. This painting is based on a photo I took at the end of an idyllic day on the beach at Glenan near Portavadie.
PortavadadieOil on canvas 41 x 51 cm £340 (free UK shipping) unframed, framing available on request. I asked Catronia which vegetable she was particularly proud of growing. She is standing by fine specimens of savoy cabbage.
Kelvinside AllotmentsPaintings from Kelvinside Allotments
