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!