Spurge Hawkmoth

8.5cm x 13.5cms

Watercolour, gouache, coloured pencil and gold leaf on board

This glorious symphony in brown only rarely reaches the UK when it migrates north in Spring and Summer. It has a pink flush to its under-wings when fresh. The caterpillars can vary in appearance but the neon colours indicate their distastefulness to predators. It’s chunkiness, simple and elegant markings and arrowhead shape drew me to paint it.

These exquisite little paintings showcase the beauty of our native moths. Their patterns and colouring is almost jewel-like and as most are nocturnal often completely unknown.  Their modest beauty, sometimes evocative names and nocturnal secrecy fascinates me. They may be overshadowed by their better-known cousins, butterflies but there are currently 2500 moth species to 59 butterflies species in the UK.

I love pattern and embellishment and have extended a lace-like design around each moth, echoing their colours and shapes. I wanted to accentuate the feeling of their preciousness by including gold leaf, which makes the paintings dance in the light.

These come carefully wrapped and signed.

Delivery is by Royal Mail tracked and signed.

Please ensure that your order will be local delivery (within 3 miles of Histon, Cambridge  UK) if you select the framed option, as glazed artwork cannot be guaranteed by post.   

Framing price includes conservation standard mount board and 22mm ash, lime-polished frame, 2mm float glass and furnished ready to hang. If you would like to explore different options, such as double mounts or different colours or thicknesses of frame, please choose the framed option and get in touch to discuss variations. There may be a small extra charge for different materials.

Please allow 2-4 weeks, I will be in touch to arrange delivery.