I was displaying some of my artwork at the AGM of the Leinster branch of the Irish Deer Society this weekend.This meeting was held in Laragh, County Wicklow. It was quite interesting to learn about deer numbers and distribution  countrywide as well as various issues concerning the branch such as poaching and conservation policies.

While on the east coast I decided to take a look at Bull Island which is near Clontarf in Dublin city. I drove out on a grey Saturday afternoon and was amazed at the wealth of birdlife which greeted me as I crossed the causeway. Teal, Shoveler, Pintail,Grey Plover and many more types of birds were often within fifty yards of the road. The great thing about the place is that these birds are quite used to humans and are generally quite relaxed.I got some lovely images of pintail at last! I didn’t even have to freeze in a hide,it was so easy I felt guilty!

I will be back  as I hear that there are a couple of peregrines around the area. It would be great to get a couple of pics of these. Dublin city and county has many great bird sites and is so handy to get to,(better not let the Dubs hear us say that too loudly!)

I have just completed a painting of a red deer stag with some hinds  and young. I decided to position the stag against the skyline as this would give him a more domineering stance. The thundery sky also adds to the feeling of drama.

The image measures 13 inches x 8 1/2 inches and is beautifully framed. The framed work measures 18 inches x 15 inches. Purchase price is Euro 550.

Whitefronts on Beet

After recently finishing a painting of pintail I felt the urge to study them in detail.There is probably no better place in Ireland to see them than Tacumshin lake in County Wexford.I arrived late Thursday evening and set up my hide.I was surprised at the low level of the water and the lack of wildfowl.

Tacumshin lake is a shallow brackish lough that once was part of the sea .Water levels are still regulated by the locals farmers I believe.

After a cold night spent in my car I trudged down to my hide ladden with cameras, seat, flask of tea and much clothes at 5.30am. The frosted reeds made a quiet approach impossible and immediately a redshank and curlew sounded the alarm.The cover of darkness helped settle their nerves.I sat in the hide and waited for dawn.I love being in a hide early in the morning, I was excited as I could hear a raft of wigeon pass by, it was still too dark to make out anything apart from black shapes.The early morning sounds were beautiful, the whistles of wigeon and teal, the greylag ganders arguing, melodious sounds of the curlew , lapwing and redshank.

The sunrise was fantastic. I was glad that I had my 5mm neoprene waders on as my feet were in water, it was coooold! As the morning grew later I realised that the ducks were too wary to come near my hide.Pintail were to be seen waaay out the lake and looked quite happy out there!I got some nice shots of a black headed gull dining on a frog.That was the highlight of the morning photowise. My observation of  the previous evening on the lack of birds was confirmed as I could not see the usual large rafts of wigeon and shoveler. I could not see any godwits at all. Nevertheless it was a very enjoyable morning.

I drove up to the Wexford Wildlife reserve later on in the afternoon to photograph the Greenland White Fronted geese.The  geese are attracted to the reserve by crops of beet and grasses. This reserve  attracts 30% of the Greenland population. Late evening light made for some nice snaps . I also got some snaps of teal in the home pond from one of the hides.I had to laugh when I thought of all the trouble I had gone to that morning to get photos of ducks and here they were outside the reserve front door! I waited till dusk and enjoyed the skeins of geese flying over my head out to their roosting spots on the estuary sands.I would recommend a visit to the reserve to anyone, bring the kids and get them excited about wildlife!

Marsh Pintail

Marsh Pintail Closeup

I have just finished this painting of a flock of pintail resting on a marsh edge. A little snow adds a winter feel to the scene as well as the cool blue in the sky . Pintail are one of my favourite ducks to paint . I love their elegant shapes and the strong markings on the drakes heads. This picture should look nice on someone’s wall…hmm on second thoughts I might keep this one myself!

I recently decided to walk off the Xmas pudding and take a ramble in the hazel wood on the quest of bullfinches and birch trees. The latter shouldn’t have been too difficult to spot  as they generally don’t move about ,the former proved quite obliging as well.I had in mind to do some woodcock and bullfinch paintings and needed to get in tune with them and their homes.

Squally thunder clouds raked across the skies as I headed up the hills towards Moycullen from Spiddal making me question my sanity on leaving the fireside!

Shortly afterwards as I was drawing close to the hazel woods a small flock of bullfinches flew from the side of the road and I managed to get a quick snap through the closed (and grimy) window . They had been feeding on some remaining hawthorn berries.I was quite pleased to have had such a close encounter but disappointed that they beat such a hasty retreat. Sometimes bullfinches can be quite relaxed after been disturbed and will often return to their feeding but not this time.

Shortly after this I parked the car , donned my wellies , wrapped up from the biting east wind and headed across the bog to sketch some birches and hazel trees for reference material. The sky was darkening over rather rapidly and as I entered the cover of the hazel wood the first hailstones began falling. The shower was incredible and the temperature must have dropped a couple of degrees.I huddled up until it was over . Shortly after it ended the bird life seemed to move about again.I was just deciding what to do when I heard the whirring of wings as a large bird landed 20 yards from me in the woodside sedges.It was a hen pheasant. It looked quite agitated as it picked its way into the hazel towards me.I froze but her keen eyesight spotted me and took off . Suddenly a female sparrowhawk swung rapidly over the hazelwood from the bogside sending some magpies into a chorus of criticism She probably was  hunting the pheasant .

I decided to walk slowly through the woods hoping to get some  bird snaps .The hazel wood is a wonderful place full of mosses ,stunted trees,limestone slabs and ferns.Even though it is dark it is warmer than the bog side and provides great shelter for foraging wildlife.I eventually crept up on a flock of feeding bullfinches more by luck than any great fieldcraft.They were feeding on the woodland floor and after eyeing me suspiciously inthe beginning decided I was harmless and relaxed again.I did get some snaps but the cover was so thick and shutter speeds so low that they were not very sharp.I love bullfinches, their dark heads make them quite comical.They always kept cover between me and them.I was delighted to observe them for twenty minutes or so.

I sketched some hazel after that and then went to sketch some birches. They are beautiful trees and the low winter sun between the squalls lit up their white trunks magnificently.I spotted some blackthorn bushes which still had  a lot of ripe sloes on them.I thought they would have eaten by the birds by now.Thee was a good crop this year.

I decided to head back to the car as the evening was slipping when a pair of snipe exploded from a splash in front of me scaring the wits out of me!I decided to be really ready with the camera for the next one .I should have been watching where I was going as I stepped into a hole and promptly got a wellie full of freezing bog water!Ah well.A welcome cup of warm tea from the flask a few minutes later warmed me up again.How do the snipe stick the cold?!As I headed home the rain began in earnest.It wouldn’t be too bad in the hazel wood though.

Hello all! Sorry I have not been active on the blog for a while.

I have been very busy painting for a number of shows over the summer but I will have a chance to relax after this weekend. I hope to do some updating on the blog next week.

Included in Latest Paintings is a pencil sketch of two foxes which I completed at the Birr Gamefair.I think its one of my favourite! Until I blog again Slán.

Stand at Shane's Castle 2011

My sister Bernie and I arrived home from Shane’s Castle on Monday tired but very pleased with the positive feedback from many people at the Game Fair.

Welcome all to my new blog! Just to give you a glimpse of what I’ve been working on recently…..

Some sketches..

Don’t miss  upcoming shows for my latest work at

The Irish Game Fair - 25th & 26th June 2011

 at Shanes Castle, Co Antrim, Northern Ireland