Creativity & Nature
Welcome to my art blog, this is my fun/creative health space dedicated to exploring and celebrating diverse artistic expressions, and part of my personal growth to see whether I can improve on my drawing and design skills - and yes, most often it is birds.....increasingly with wonderful friends like Marianne, Eddie, Paul and Wendy we have Art Days together to share ideas and learning. The very Best of Days.
European Roller
I adore print making and continue to explore different techniques. All around Alentejo ( especially in Mertola and Castro Verde districts - there are the creation of vital sanctuaries for European Rollers - in 2025 I saw upwards of 10 pairs and their fledglings. What a delight.
A rare Short-Toed Eagle
Whilst I was out and about rolling with the Rollers in Alentejo, I saw this majestic eagle. It wouldn't let me get too close for photographing so from a fuzzy photo I did this sketch and one other.
Blue Rock (salt) Thrush
The magic of a Blue Rock Thrush sighting always captures my heart, and I've done several different prints and drawings. I am somewhat in love with them.
Blue Rock Thrush guarding the castle
One late sun licked afternoon up at Mertola Castelo I was delighted to catch sight of several Blue Rock Thrushes and their fledglings - bounding around the castle and nearby ruins.
Crow falls through sky
I do so much like a Corvid - Crows, Rooks, Jays and Ravens....I've seen and heard several pairs of Ravens around the village, Alcaria Ruiva, and of course in London and Suffolk.
Stone Curlews
These wide-eyed night birds are a joy to listen to, but so rarely spied. We hear them around the village and also in Suffolk (Cavenham Heath)
White Storks standing guard all around the village
In spring it seems like every telegraph pole has its own white stork nest (a huge bundle of sticks), and all around the village (Alcaria Ruiva) they form a protective and elegant formation.
This Raven lives with his life partner on the road to Castro Verde
You can't beat the sheer joys of printmaking outside in the 'Quintal' - the insects, birdsong, village sounds, the brilliance of the light and of course Alentejano blue skies
Conference of the Birds
This year's art-making project is focused on capturing the wildlife and birds that live in the Mertola & Castro Verde areas, Baixa Alentejo, Portugal. And, then possibly putting a publication and exhibition together, with partner organisations and friends both in Portugal and the UK - including ArtsShare CIC.
The project itself might well also include poetry and other writings. Taking inspiration from the wonderful Persian Sufi poem - Conference of the Birds (Attar of Nishapur).
The theme of migration will figure strongly, as many different birds also find themselves in the UK - and I am reaching out to those grassroots organisations working with refugees and migrants that I know through my Civil Society Together CIC to see whether they'd like to get involved.
Some of the beauty in the world that I've been lucky enough to get a glimpse of....and sketch....
