Aviary
My first painting of 2026, coincidingwith Burma's Independence Day of 4th January 1948. The peacock has long been the national symbol of Burma/Myanmar - a country which has the distressing record of hosting the world's longest-running civil war.
Duelling peacocks seemed an apt image, displaying both the beauty and tragedy of Myanmar.
I deliberately depicted a South East Asian green peacock and an Indian blue peacock; representing Myanmar’s location at the nexus of South and South East Asia.
Gouache & acrylic on board.
21 x 30cm
A burst of birds against a sky of gold. How many birds can you count? How many can you identify?
This captivating original painting showcases a dynamic flock of diverse swifts and swallows in mid-flight. Rich gold acrylic provides the background for delicate gouache, creating a luminous backdrop that highlights each bird's features. The meticulous detail in rendering these avian beauties is exceptional, drawing inspiration from the intricate traditions of Indo-Persian miniature painting to offer a fresh, contemporary perspective on this classic subject.
I painted this in Kabul, as the final Taliban offensive was escalating. It struck me, then, that when war breaks out only the birds are truly free.
Birds are a recurrent subject of my paintings, and the land around my home hosts around forty species of birds - a constant source of inspiration.
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