BIRDS ON THE WIRE

Birds on barbed wire fences became one of my trademark series when I started mosaics. I loved creating these artworks, although I’m less fond of working with the barbed wire!

Each piece is an original, created with careful attention to the character and personality of the bird species, and I also try to include an ecologically relevant background.

Title: “European Bee-eaters on the Wire”
Size: 35 x 95 cm
Price: SOLD (South Africa)
Inspiration: A flock of gregarious European Bee-eaters sitting on a barbed wire fence. A common visitor to South Africa in summer, they migrate to Europe for the cold winter months (and the European summer). A definite favourite.
Title: “Patrolling the Wire”
Size: 35 x 95 cm
Price: SOLD (Ireland)
Inspiration: The Fiscal Shrike (aka Jacky Hangman) is well known for catching insects and impaling them on barbed wire fences (especially the toxic grasshoppers as this allows the toxins to degrade before they eat them). I know it is a bit gruesome, but it is such a common and distinctive sight that I couldn’t help but do a mosaic of this very special bird (and its prey!).
Title: “Swallows on the Wire in a Cosmos Field”
Size: 45 x 120 cm
Price: SOLD (South Africa)
Inspiration: One of my favourite autumn sights - White-throated Swallows sitting on a barbed wire fence amongst the cosmos! Each and every flower, bud and stem is individually handmade and formed in glass.
Title: “EuropeaTitle: “White-fronted Bee-eaters on the Wire”
Size: 35 x 95 cm
Price: SOLD (Australia)
Inspiration: The gregarious and busy little white-fronted bee-eaters sitting on a barbed wire fence and having a lovely feast on ladybirds and bees.
Title: “The King and Queen”
Size: 35 x 95 cm
Price: SOLD (Dubai)
Inspiration: African hoopoes look so regal and majestic with their incredible crests. I always think of them as the king and queen of the garden! These two are sitting on a barbed wire fence and feasting on ladybirds.
Title: “Zebra Finches on the Wire”
Size: 35 x 125 cm
Price: COMMISSION (Australia)
Inspiration: A flock of highly social and super cute little Zebra Finches. These finches are very gregarious and often gather in large flocks on wire fences in the outback (desert and semi-desert) regions of Australia. Males are more brightly coloured than the females (males have bright red beaks, orange cheeks, black chests and spotty epaulets). I loved doing this commission!