Gareth Watts Artist

A little.Owl on driftwood. I don't usually change the pieces of wood I find, but the small fragment of board perfectly fitted the channel cut into the larger piece. Which gave the owl a ideal perch, even if he looks a little grumpy about it.

I've had these wooden blocks for a while and wasn't sure what to do with them. Decided on Gulls as they worked well with the background. Still not sure how to present them, maybe grouped together or linked in two series? Any ideas?

Just putting the finishing touches to another Woodpecker. Winter's a great time to see these birds, as the lack of leaf cover, and the contact p*k calls as they start establishing territories, help you to find them.

Rippled sand, and a Turnstone foraging along the shore. The undulations on the board reminded me of waves, sand and the shore. The perfect background for a favourite bird.

A little Egret poised whilst hunting the mudflats.

Just a cheeky little Long Tail, no particular reason. Just seemed to suit the board.

Looking through some old photos I found this entrance to another world.

Finally, blue skies today after what seems like weeks of rain. Coincidentally just finished these guys, hopefully a harbinger of better things to come.

Found this little lost world whilst trapsing round a business park looking for Waxwings. Hopefully a painting of these amazing birds coming soon. In the meantime here's a ecosystem in miniature.

A Christmas commission, gone out as a present.

A low watery sun, blue grey skies and the mournful call of the curlew over the flats. Winter birding on the Essex coast.

First painting I've had chance to finish lately, happy with this one.

A Kingfisher waiting above a winding, sparkling stream. Now on his way to a new home.

Really liked the smooth, tactile nature of this piece of driftwood. Wondering which bird would suit whilst watching the Blue T**s on the feeders....

A brick red board, stained by the iron rich muds of the Naze. Seems to suit a pair of House Sparrows.

A little wintery Robin on driftwood board.

The dents in the top corner of this board suggested something had damaged the wood, so I painted the culprit.

Another Kingfisher, the splashes of blue/green on the board suggested dappled light on water. And what better bird?

This board just reminded me of a sea swell, there was only one bird to fit it. The most buoyant of sea ducks an occasional winter visitor to my neck of the woods.

A new Woodpecker winging it's way to join the flock at just dropped off the three latest paintings.

I really liked the shape of this piece of driftwood, tried to find an image that matched it.

Just a little Long tail

Just set up for an exhibition at Essex Wildlife Trusts Fingringhoe Wick Discovery Centre. Running for the month of October, a percentage of each sale will go to supporting the Wildlife Trust.

Always fun to paint, and a joy to watch.

More Swallows, they just sem to work on these blue and white boards.

Nuthatch

Harry Heron under a setting sun.

A favourite to start the week, love a Yaffle.

A family portrait this time around, the Essex coast is an important area for breeding Ringed Plovers. Always a pleasure watching them darting about on the shore.

A cheeky little Robin