Swimming with the Fishes

Over the past couple of days I've spent a fair few hours underwater photographing roach (pictured, with dace), grayling, brown trout and perch.  The weather was very kind to me and for once the water was very clear (which is no mean feat here in the UK!).

Painting fish underwater is especially dificult without good refrence.  I've never used a 'held' fish in any of my work, apart from using such shots for details such as scales, fins and eyes.  there is no substitute for a naturally swimming fish and I hope this is reflected in my paintings.

I'm really looking forward to winter in the studio now. It's great to have so much to get your teeth into!

Rod Licence Artwork

Both these paintings are still 'in progress' but will be delivered to the Environment Agency in a couple of weeks.  The coarse licence will feature a brace of roach (painting based on a 2lb 4oz and 1lb 9 oz fish) and the game licence a single sea trout (or sewin here in Wales).  It's been suggested by one of my Facebook fans that I run a competition to win one each of the prints on April 1st next year, so watch this space!

Join David Miller Art on Facebook

I now have a dedicated fish-centric page on Facebook.  Sign up for Facebook exclusive promotions on prints, competitions, and a sneak preview of new paintings and prints.  I also plan to add video footage of my adventures in due course. You can find us at: David Miller Art.






All Facebook members will be PM'd a special discount code in late October entitling them to 10% off all prints sold on my website during the whole of November, so if you fancy a print for Christmas join up now.

Swimming with Salmon

I've been up in Scottish Border country this week in pursuit of salmon.  The water wasn't very clear and I'm beginning to think that salmon, far more than sea trout, are pretty camera shy. 
This beauty reversed out from under a rock he was sheltering under and shot off into the gloom!

New Web Site Launched

The new web site has finally been launched!  It's much smaller than the old site and less 'organic', and although the old site has been a good friend to us over the years, hopefully this one will be easier to navigate.

There aren't too many fish originals on there at the moment. I've been busy over the summer collecting reference and seeing some fabulous sights.

I will, however, be getting down to some serious fish work once the weather breaks as I'm planning a one-man exhibition next year.

BBC Autumnwatch

In Mid November I was very please to be asked to make a brief appearance on BBC2's Autumnwatch as part of Iolo William's quest to find sea trout in Mid Wales. I spent couple of days with the BBC crew back in September filming in the studio and snorkelling in my local sea trout rivers and was with them again in November, a few days before the programme broadcast. Here's the clip. I hope you enjoy it!

2009 International Birdfair, Rutland Water

It's almost Birdfair time again and as usual we are both running around trying to get paintings, frames and printing finished! I will be taking along a really nice selection of work this year, though I might find it hard to top the Gannets, which sold on the first day and attracted plenty of admirers.
Amongst them is this painting of two young peregrines about to leave the nest which is one of my favourites. I really enjoyed painting this, particularly the play of light on the warm rock of the quarry. it's a special piece.
I'll also have another gannet painting, though this one is a little more risque (!) - you will have to come to the fair or visit my website to see why!
There's also a lovely swallow, teal, gadwall and I may even have space for a couple of fish pieces.
The Birdfair runs from Friday 21st - Sunday 23rd August.

Photographing Kingfishers

My Wife Lisa was lucky enough to photograph this little beauty from the office window. He stuck around for at least half an hour, after the trout parr in our stream no doubt!
He's also been visiting our pond so I have set up my pop-up hide down there, along with a strategically placed perch, in the hopes that I will be able to photograph him there. Typically he came down yesterday whilst the two of us and the mad spaniel were down there feeding the roach. He stuck around in a nearby tree waiting for us to go, so I have high hopes of some lovely photographs in the coming weeks, as long as the weather stays fine.


Here's the hide
in all its glory.
Now to sit and wait!