Paintings of starlings - an inspiring bird

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!

Starlings up, up and away

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 - Starling murmuration

Otmoor sunset
watercolour and drypoint

AVAILABILITY
Original painting £155
Digital file for self-printing
10MG
3448 x 4862
180dpi

The Night Comes Down - Starling murmuration

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

Flying colours
acrylic on canvas

AVAILABILITY
Digital file for self printing
7MG
2688 x2700px
180dpi

Starlings in a storm

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

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

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