Noongar bird stories – from an article by Peter Hancock, Sydney Morning Herald, April 5, 2014 When the birds were competing for their colours, the most difficult colour to obtain was blue, which was kept in the sky. The birds realised that only the highest-flying bird would be able to snatch some of the sky’s [ more info ]
Every West Aussie is familiar with the melodious chortling of the magpies’ “dawn chorus”, but few know that in Aboriginal stories these birds are credited with creating the very first sunrise. According the Noongar Dreaming, the sky was once so close to the ground that trees could not grow, people had to crawl and all [ more info ]
“Swoop” – Wins his second international Award. He has been awarded Hon. Mention in the Traditional category of USA based Fusion Art – 4th Into the Wild Art Exhibition. This is a jury judged competition and the second international award this painting has received. “Swoop” has previously been jury judged “Best Painting in Show” by [ more info ]
Commission above was created for a client who requested a series of bird artworks – Birds specific to the Margaret River Region. Thank you to photographer Judy Walker for graciously allowing use of your Scarlet Robin image used as inspiration. During a hugely successful 2021 Open Studios, I was commissioned to complete a number of [ more info ]
As a thank you to all who visited my studio during the September 2021 Open Studios event, I ran a competition to win a print of The Chaperone. We had nearly 400 entries, and estimated our total number of visitors at around 500. Charlie and the other fur kids (Goblin and Spike the Alpaca’s and Sheep) were [ more info ]
2021 will be my first year as a participant in the Margaret River Region Open Studios. This year will be the largest and most exciting Open Studios event in Australia. With over 140 artists opening their doors to the public showcasing a huge diversity of amazing artistic talent including glass blowers, tattoo artists, carpet makers, [ more info ]
Nicky Shelton Australian Brid Artist selected as Featured Artist – Artsy Shark
“Lenny” the Red-tailed Black Cockatoo has been successfully selected for inclusion in the Capecare acquisition project 2021. Capecare is today the largest regionally based independent aged care provider in Western Australia. They are an organisation dedicated to supporting the local art community by acquireing and displaying art throughout their residential care buildings for residents, their families, [ more info ]
The conversion of our old rustic stables into my new artist studio is a dream come true! Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine I would one day have my very own dedicated creative space (40 square meters) to splash paint, display my Birdlife artworks and share my oil painting techniques with like minded [ more info ]
“Marty” – Carnaby Cockatoo painted in oils was Sold and shipped to his new home in Italy on 26th September 2021. “Marty’s” new owner was so thrilled with her acquisition, telling me how excited she was to be receiving a painting that would brighten the dark time of living through Covid in Europe. Both Marty’s [ more info ]
Invitation to return to teach Oil Painting Techniques at Albany Summer School 2021.
What a wonderful surprise to discover I am a featured artist in the June 2020 addition of ArtBaazar’s Online Magazine. Even more of a surprise to discover my painting of “Swoop” has been featured on the front cover of the magazine. Acknowledgement to photographer Muneer Al Shanti for graciously providing the reference photo as inspiration [ more info ]
Nicky Shelton – Awarded Traditional Artist Spotlight winner by Fusion Art for the month of May 2020.
It was an honor to have been invited to tech “Oil Painting Techniques” at the 60th anniversary of the Albany Summer School. The school – one the longest running Summer School programmes in Australia. My class was fully booked with a team of 12 talented and enthusiastic students – all at different levels of oil [ more info ]
Enrolments are open for Albany Summer School January 13th to 17th 2020. Come and join me in what should be a fun and rewarding experience where I will share my oil painting techniques including how to apply tonal values, oil paint application and lots more. I will show you skills than can easily be translated [ more info ]
I present to you a sample of small bird paintings 12.5cm x 17.5 cm created whilst on a 12 month European road trip. It seems surreal painting Australian birds in Italy, France, Croatia and different European locations, but Aussie birds are my thing and as they say you have to follow your passion. [ more info ]
“Mitch” Major Mitchell painted in oils 40cm x 50cm. Dressed in salmon pink these magnificent cockatoos possess a crown befitting a king. ” Mich” the Major Mitchell now resides on the walls of a Californian bird life art collector who’s passion is cockatoos. It is lovely to share Australian birds in painted form. [ more info ]
“Swoop” my bird painting of an Australian Magpie takes pride of honor – Jury selected “Best in Show” by the USA based Camelback Gallery “Animal” one line painting competition. “Swoop” was lovingly painted in memory of my father who lost his battle with Parkinson’s disease. When asked what bird would he like me [ more info ]
How fabulous to be featured by IntoBirds – an online magazine and community for bird lovers. Here’s a link to the full story!
This is a photo of wildlife photographer Shaun Fearn standing next to my oil painting called “Edwina’s Luncheon Orb”. Shaun graciously provided the reference photo for this painting which was jury judged as a finalist in Australia’s most prestigious bird art competition – the 2017 Holmes Art Prize for Realistic Birdlife. I could not do what [ more info ]
Thank you to all my followers and birdie enthusiast friends for your support on “Happy Wrensdays”. Wednesday is a special day for lovers of birds. Many refer to the mid week working day as hump day. Not so for Wren admirers, who have renamed this day ” Wrensday” in honour of the worlds [ more info ]
It is a great honor to be invited to submit my Australian bird paintings to be included in the annual Fine Art at Hale School Art Exhibition. Hale School is one of Perth, Western Australia’s most prestigious private schools. The annual exhibition, which has been running for 26 years, is curated by a selection panel [ more info ]
Bird Paintings Available at Jahroc Galleries I am glad to announce that a selection of my bird paintings are available at Jahroc Galleries in Margaret River. I feel honoured to have them represent my bird artworks. Jahroc is one of the leading galleries in the region with a long history in the town. It is [ more info ]
Exhibition Nerves I admit to being a bit nervous about my first solo art exhibition for my bird art. I knew it was going to be a brave move – but nothing ventured, nothing gained! As it happened I had nothing to worry about as the exhibition was a huge success. The turn out was [ more info ]
