Paintings of starlings - an inspiring bird

The European starling (Sturnus vulgaris) has repeatedly inspired my painting.

I've made numerous paintings of starlings over the years. I love these characterful birds for so many reasons. For starters, they're a beautiful shape and size. They’re also brilliant singers and copy other birds and sounds. We’ve heard them do the call of red kites and blackbirds – even car alarms. And I adore their plumage – iridescent purples, blues, greens pinks with gorgeous yellow chevrons at the tip of each feather.

The Eynsham Murmuration

I was inspired to make more paintings of starlings in January 2023 when a flock of up to 30,000 birds unexpectedly came to roost in Eynsham, Oxfordshire, for six weeks. We went out to observe them night after night. They gathered in vast numbers at sunset. Their shape-shifting, as they swirled around above our heads to avoid the sparrowhawks and peregrine falcons, frequently made us gasp out loud. These amazing shapes are called murmurations.

On the telly! The Eynsham Murmuration was big news. One evening ITV Meridian News sent a reporter and cameraman out to film it! Watch it here. (I’m the enthusiastic mad woman at 57 seconds in…)

A selection of my paintings of starlings

My first phase painting starlings took place in 2015. Since then I have painted them in watercolour, gouache, drypoint, acrylic, and on the iPad. Certain compositions are so satisfying to me (flying in a group, perched on a reed) that I have returned to them time and time again! 

Many of my original paintings have sold. But in most cases, I have digital files are available to buy for self-printing - the one entitled "Murmuration" is especially popular.

Plus I have of greetings cards of many of these paintings. Have a look!

	Up, up and away! watercolour and gouache AVAILABILITY Digital file for self-printing 20MG 3984 x 4448px 300dpi
	Starling Skyfall gouache AVAILABILITY Original painting £200 Digital file for self-printing 6MG 3643 x 2586px 180dpi
	Eynsham murmuration watercolour AVAILABILITY Digital file for self-printing 7MG 3660 x 3672px 180dpi
	The sun, the moon and the starlings watercolour AVAILABILITY Digital file for self-printing 5MG file 3264 x 2328px 180dpi
	Otmoor sunset watercolour and drypoint AVAILABILITY Original painting £155 Digital file for self-printing 10MG 3448 x 4862 180dpi
	The night comes down watercolour and drypoint AVAILABILITY Digital file for self-printing 10MG 3480 x 4848px 180dpi
	All the colours of a starling watercolour and gouache AVAILABILITY Digital file for self-printing 18MG 3984 x 4448px 300dpi
	Flying colours acrylic on canvas AVAILABILITY Digital file for self printing 7MG 2688 x2700px 180dpi
	Starlings in a storm watercolour AVAILABILITY Digital file for self-printing 4MG 2220x2285px 180dpi
	Murmuration acrylic on canvas AVAILABILITY Digital file for self-printing 4MG 2396 x 2372px 180dpi
	Starling at sunset acrylic on canvas AVAILABILITY Digital file for self-printing details on request
	Starlings at night drypoint, watercolour and inks AVAILABILITY Digital file for self-printing 6MG 2658 x 3642px 300dpi
	Murmuration at Otmoor watercolour AVAILABILITY Digital file for self-printing 5MG 3264 x 2328px 180dpi