Probably the greatest love of my life, is observing and painting wildlife. In particular birds (I wonder why with a name like Finch?). Like all the other skills, I can work in all mediums, and again preferring none of over the other. My most memorable wildlife art experience was when I went to Kenya on business for three weeks. During one of the weekends, I was asked if I wanted to go to the Masai Mara wildlife park to stay at a safari lodge (paid for by the client). Of course I refused… Not. I jumped at the opportunity. Luckily I had taken my watercolours and pad with me. For two days I went out on safari with other tourists. Doing sketches in the wild – and I was able to sell every one I completed. The tourists were eager to purchase a picture they saw developing before them. In total I sold 15 sketches, ranging from Rhino’s, Lions, Giraffes and Elephants. An amazing experience.
Like other pages, some examples shown are photographs or digital scans of 35mm Roll Film photographs of the original artwork and do not reflect a true representation of the quality or detail of the finished artwork. If you have not looked at the Landscape gallery, then you will see some further examples of wildlife (particularly birds) that have been included in some of the scenes. Enjoy.
Acrylic on canvas board. 24″ x 30″
A gift for Phil Ouellette
With his “Chuckie” thingy. A study in oils on canvas, measuring 24″ x 20″. Commissioned by Dr. Colin Raymond-Jones.
Watercolour measuring 20″ x 16″. Canada Geese in a harvested corn field – Ontario.
A gift for Katherine Cotton.
“The Wolves”
Acrylic on canvas – Grey and Black Wolf in colour tone (Old gold and black)
of Wolverhampton Wanderers FC
Gifted to my Nephews son
Pastel on black matt illustration board and measures 20″ x 30″.
Commissioned by Keith and Jackie Finch.
Mallards, a watercolour study on 140lbs bockingford paper.
A gift to Syd and Vivian Carrs-Smith.
Oils on canvas, measuring approximately 24″ x 20″.
Commissioned by our neighbours in Celle Germany in 1989
Acrylic on canvas – Polar bear and cubs in snow
Commissioned by Mike Templeton
Canadian Grey Wolves in winter
A study in oils on canvas, measuring approximately 24″ x 20″.
Commissioned by Phil Ouellette.
Watercolour commissioned by Richard Sergeant
Large, oil on canvas. (3′ x 2.6″)
Purchased by a customer in the Huntsman pub – North Yorkshire 1992.
Oil on canvas. 24″ x 20″.
Commissioned by Norman and Susie Yarwood, Celle, Germany, 1988 .
Large oil on canvas. Two Snowy Owls resting on a flowery summer North Canadian tundra.
Purchased by Chris McKitterick.
Watercolour – Nesting swallows in porch of Mike and Debbie Smith at their house in Virginia.
Oils on canvas, measuring approximately 3′ x 2′.6″.
Commissioned by Dee, our friend in Germany during the late 80’s.
Oil on canvas board- 30″x 24″.
Gifted to Jim Doucette for his new cabin on the Madawaska River Ontario
Oils on canvas, measuring approximately 3′ x 2′.
Commissioned by Des Ewers.
Oil on canvas. Large study 5′ x 3′. Ospreys on White Lake Ontario sharing a large fish, one preening, the other standing on guard. Gifted to the Canadian Wildlife Association
Large Acrylic on canvas that shows one cub making eye contact and the other not.
Commissioned by my daughter for auction in support of the Canadian Autism Society.
Mothers of Autistic kids in Ottawa call themselves “Momma Bears”
Acrylic on deep frame canvas. (Large 4′ x 3.6′)
Puffins of Newfoundland and Labrador
For sale – contact Merv for details
Acrylic on canvas – Gifted to Jim Doucette
A study in Oils on Canvas. 3′.6″ x 2′.
Commissioned by Mike and Debbie Smith
Oils on canvas. Commissioned by friends in Germany circa 1989.
Watercolour – Commissioned by Richard Sergeant
Latest Project: The Owls of Canada
15 Acrylic on Deep (2″) canvas. Life size paintings of the Owls of Canada. In total there are sixteen different owls in Canada. I have completed fifteen and decided not to duplicate the Screech (eastern shown) variant. Four of the smaller owls are featured on the same canvas. All these paintings are for sale. I would prefer to sell them to one single client rather than split them up. These would be ideal for a Canadian company/corporation that prides itself in being wise (Owls are associated with wisdom) and a supporter of Canadian wildlife (a percentage of sale price will be donated to the Canadian Wildlife Federation).
