Tag Archives: Wildlife art

I’m so excited to be part of Margaret River Region Open Studios this September! 🎨🦜

My studio, “The Aviary” – Studio No. 87 in the Event Guide, will be open from 12–27 September, 10am–4pm, and I’d love to welcome you in.

I have always been fascinated by Australia’s beautiful and diverse birdlife, and I love bringing these incredible birds to life through my oil paintings. Each painting is about more than capturing feathers, colour and form — I want to capture the individual character, spirit and personality that makes each bird so special.

There’s an even more meaningful part to my work: a portion from every original painting sold is donated to BirdLife Australia, helping support the protection and conservation of the birds that inspire me every day. ❤️

If you’re visiting Margaret River Open Studios, please come and say hello, explore my studio, and see the paintings up close. I’d love to share the stories and inspiration behind the birds and my work.

📍 The Aviary — Studio No. 87 in the Event Guide
📅 12–27 September
🕙 10am–4pm

I can’t wait to see you there! 🐦🎨

Margaret River Region Open Studios 2026.

Wild Heart Gallery, USA – Congratulations Nicky Shelton for “Swoop” earning Finalist in our MOOD. Animals with Attitude 2026 juried international virtual exhibition

Artist’s description: “Swoop is my character driven portrait of an Australian Magpie, captured with only one eye visible, a deliberate artistic choice that transforms a familiar bird into a symbol of resilience and individuality. By focusing one eye, the work invites the viewer into an intimate, almost confrontational moment, where the bird’s intelligence and defiant spirit become the emotional centre of the piece. The portrait honours the Magpie’s reputation in Australian culture, bold, territorial, mischievous, while also revealing a quieter vulnerability beneath its sharp gaze. This tension between toughness and tenderness gives the work its emotional weight. Rendered with strong contrast and a minimalist composition, the piece draws attention to texture, expression, and personality rather than environmental detail. The result is a portrait that feels both iconic and intimate: a tribute to the everyday wildlife that shapes Australian identity, and a reminder that even the most ordinary creatures carry extraordinary stories.”

61 x 36 x 1.5 inches, Oil on Canvas