Nicky Shelton is an Australian and internationally awarded birdlife Artist with avian enthusiasts collecting her artworks worldwide. She has featured in a number of birdlife magazines and fine art publications such as Parrot Society of Australia, American Art Collector and European Artbaazar.com.
She is passionate about birds and lovingly recreates their exquisite beauty in fine detail, bringing forward their personality and character.
Each of her subjects has a story to tell and you can almost see what they are thinking. Her attention to detail and sensitivity to each bird’s very soul brings each one to life.
In the first instance this gives us a perspective of birds and their individuality. In the second it challenges us to consider each bird’s disposition - his or her point of view. In most of the pieces the eye or facial demeanour is a central element, and many of the eyes seem to follow you around the room.
“Shelton’s oil paintings are nothing short of breathtaking.” Amanda Keenan, West Australian 25 April 2018 Nicky has always loved birds – seeing them as one of Mother Nature’s gifts. Through her paintings, she endeavours to capture the beauty, unique personality and magnificence of each native bird, interpreting each bird’s quirky characteristics to bring it alive on canvas.
Although each piece is essentially a bird portrait, she is careful of the structure and layout. Some paintings use authentic backgrounds such as the trees and bushes the birds frequent. Other times she will use a contemporary stylistic background to better feature her chosen subject.
Painting exclusively in oils, she spends weeks layering paint to build not only the form, but also the character of each subject. The result is a lifelike image that captures the charisma and detail of every bird.
“If you have the time to sit a while and observe the beauty of birds, you will be amazed at the colourful detail that fills their feathered coats. Australian artist Nicky Shelton has that wonderful ability to bring that beauty in all its glory to the canvas.” artbaazar.com Nicky moved to Margaret River in 2019, and feels blessed to be entertained daily by an array of wrens, finches, rosellas, parrots and cockatoos who live freely in her property’s gardens.
From every original bird painting sold, she makes a donation to Birdlife Australia to help protect the many bird species which are under threat.