• Painting of seabirds diving underwater
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Why they're called Seabirds

Why they're called Seabirds

£325.00
£325.00
Sale Sold out
Original/print/digital

"Why they're called Seabirds" is a painting of puffins, guillemots and razorbills diving under water

• The original painting is in watercolour on 600gsm paper, size 390 x 395mm.
• A digital image is available for self-printing

In "Why they're called Seabirds", you see guillemots (Uria aalge), Atlantic puffins (Fratercula arctica), and razorbills (Alca torda) diving underwater and bobbing about on the surface. On the horizon is the distinctive shape of Bass Rock, which every summer hosts the largest colony of nesting northern gannets in the world. The main focus is on and below the waterline.

I made a painting called "Seabird Spectacular!" after a trip to Scotland in 2023. The lower section of that painting, with the birds diving underwater, was especially wonderful to imagine and even lovelier to paint. I thought it deserved a composition in it's own right. And here it is.

Boat trip to Bass Rock

It's inspired by a moment on a boat trip to Bass Rock. I leaned over the side to watch a guillemot dive down and swim alongside the boat, just under the surface a couple of metres away. It followed the trajectory of the boat for some time. And because of the angle of the light, I could clearly see it. I was mesmerised! It made a huge visual impression on me. I have tried to express some of that thrill of watching that one bird for those few moments into my painting.

Want to discover seabirds for yourself?

There are hundreds of options for short tourist boat trips from ports all around the UK. For many, advanced booking is essential. Try these:

• Take a trip with Pembrokeshire Islands Boat Trips. They go to Skomer, Skokholm and Grassholm. We have been many times!
• Head to East Lothian, and visit Bass Rock, the Isle of May, and Craigleith Island. We like Sula's trips which go from North Berwick harbour. And we've been more than once!
• Other great places for seabird viewing include The Farne Islands, Northumbria; Bempton Cliffs, Yorkshire; and from Cornwall and the Scillies, there are too many boat trips to mention!

Shipping and delivery

This website takes orders from UK, Ireland, France, Germany, Denmark, US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.

If you are not in these countries and you would like to make a purchase, please get in touch with me directly.

Posting your order

Typically, orders for physical products placed after 12pm on Friday, and on Saturday or Sunday will not be posted until Monday at the earliest. I use Royal Mail to dispatch your order.

If you have ordered multiple items, I will try to post everything together. Occasionally, this is not possible, in which case they will be dispatched in separate packages.

Digital files will typically be transferred to customers within 24 hours via email using WeTransfer, the file transfer website.

Buying an original painting? Please choose the tracked option!

UNITED KINGDOM (incl. Channel Islands, Isle of Man)

  • UK Royal Mail second class – 3 to 5 working days (can be longer at busy times of year)
  • UK Royal Mail tracked next day special delivery – next day by 1pm

If you choose a tracked delivery, I will be notified with your Royal Mail tracking number when your parcel has been dispatched.

INTERNATIONAL ORDERS

IMPORTANT! All international orders are shipped duties unpaid. Orders shipped outside of the UK may be subject to customs, taxes and duties. This cost is the responsibility of the customer and is payable on receipt of goods. Please check your local customs tax and duty costs as duties must be paid before the goods are released.

USA and CANADA
Royal Mail International Tracked service (7-14 days)

AUSTRALIA and NEW ZEALAND
Royal Mail International Tracked service (7-14 days)

EUROPE (Rep of Ireland, France, Germany and Denmark only)
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