I am a self-taught artist specialising in painting birds.
I have a lifelong passion for natural history and have always enjoyed drawing and painting, but only recently have I combined these two interests to begin painting birds.
My inspiration comes from the tradition of bird illustration starting in the 14th and 15th centuries, and reaching a peak with the great bird illustrators of the 19th and early 20th centuries. In these days of digital photography, and super telephoto lenses, the role of the "bird artist" in terms of production of ornithological reference material has greatly diminished. However, I believe that there is still a certain quality to the observation of birds in drawing and painting that justifies continuing this style for purely aesthetic purposes.
I enjoy working in the field, but with limits on time I find that most of my works are produced at home, from a combination of reference sketches and photographs. I work mostly in acrylics on hot pressed or cold pressed watercolour paper, and occasionally in watercolours. I generally prefer to keep the background very simple, or entirely plain, to allow the form and detail of the bird to take centre stage. I also enjoy trying to capture the movement and power of birds in flight.
I live in Maidenhead with my wife and two young children.
To Contact Alex:
Email:alexhughesart@gmail.com
I have a lifelong passion for natural history and have always enjoyed drawing and painting, but only recently have I combined these two interests to begin painting birds.
My inspiration comes from the tradition of bird illustration starting in the 14th and 15th centuries, and reaching a peak with the great bird illustrators of the 19th and early 20th centuries. In these days of digital photography, and super telephoto lenses, the role of the "bird artist" in terms of production of ornithological reference material has greatly diminished. However, I believe that there is still a certain quality to the observation of birds in drawing and painting that justifies continuing this style for purely aesthetic purposes.
I enjoy working in the field, but with limits on time I find that most of my works are produced at home, from a combination of reference sketches and photographs. I work mostly in acrylics on hot pressed or cold pressed watercolour paper, and occasionally in watercolours. I generally prefer to keep the background very simple, or entirely plain, to allow the form and detail of the bird to take centre stage. I also enjoy trying to capture the movement and power of birds in flight.
I live in Maidenhead with my wife and two young children.
To Contact Alex:
Email:alexhughesart@gmail.com
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