Ptarmigan Portrait by Richard Whittlestone

Medium: Oil

About the Artist:
Richard Whittlestone was raised on his family's dairy farm in rural Yorkshire, where his grandmother - a biologist - instilled in him a deep curiosity and love of animals and the natural world. Throughout his childhood he observed and cared for the wildlife around him, unknowingly laying the foundations for his future career.

He began painting at the age of five with no formal instruction, and by the age of thirteen he had sold his first paintings. By fourteen he had held his first exhibition, and at 22 his work had been shown by the Society of Wildlife Artists in London.

Since those early years, Richard's career has gone from strength to strength, focussing on the minutely-observed bird portraits which remain his first love. Since 1989, each of Richard's paintings has also included a tiny image of a fly - this subtle addition has now become his trademark, adding a touch of extra personality to each and every canvas.