PORTFOLIO - FISH ART
“Lost”
Mackerel amongst sea fan coral (Gulf of Mexico) mounted on copper treated with various patina solutions. The surrounding mount is painted wood.
Size: 60 x 60 cm
“Mackerel Shoal”
Recently completed shoal of 24 mackerel. The mount is copper with patina and resin. The sides (3 cm) are also copper with the same patina and resin.
Size: 60 x60 cm
Now living in Glasgow, Scotland
Shad (“Elf” in Western Cape South Africa) or (“Maigre” in France)
Shad fishing off the beach is very popular in South Africa. I bought this specimen at the wonderful fishmonger in Villebois-Lavalette, 25 minutes drive from us. After photographing and sketching it, it went straight on the BBQ. The fish is pewter, acrylic, gold leaf, silver leaf and resin. The mount is copper treated with many coats of a mixture of patinas. The frame is a floating one, covered with gold leaf with a narrow background with silver leaf.
Size: 67 x 34 cm
Close-up of the shad in sunlight
Side view of the Shad to show the patina copper side, before it was framed.
Wild Salmon 2
Wild salmon possibly swimming up the River Tay in Scotland. The fish is of pewter with black patina, acrylic and gold leaf then a thin coat of resin. The mount is gold leaf on wood, with the outside frame also gold leaf on wood with a painted background.
Size: 88 x 42 cm
Hungry Rainbows
Three rainbow trout along the river bed. Fish: pewter with acrylic, gold leaf and resin. Mount (+sides): copper treated with various patinas then covered with a thin coat of resin t give the piece a “wet” look. The shape in relief can be seen on the sides.
Size: 30 x 21 cm
Shoal of Snook
Snook swim in the Atlantic estuaries of mostly central America. They have a distinctive black lateral line and make for a good fight. Gold leaf on the pectoral fins. Mount is copper with several coats of patina then a thin coat of resin. The floating frame is outer gold leaf with a narrow painted background.
Close up of one of the snook . Gold leaf on the pectoral fin.
Side view of the snook to show patina copper side before framing.
Portrait of Rainbow Trout
Rainbows are beautiful trout and each one is uniquely coloured.
Pewter with acrylic, gold leaf and resin. The mount is copper treated with patina.
Size: 30.5 x 30.5 cm. Sides of mount: 30 cm
Tuna Shoal
COMMISSION
Shoal of blue fin tuna . Pewter with acrylic, silver leaf and resin. Mount is copper treated with patina solutions.
Size: 35 x 35 cm
SOLD
Tuna Shoal 2
Shoal of 18 blue fin tuna, similar to the one I caught in Mocambique.
Size: 60 x 30 cm. SOLD
Side view of the shoal, heading away
Brown Trout: Change of direction
Another inhabitant of the River Tay outside my balcony. The fish (pewter, acrylic, gold leaf, resin) has a hint of gold across its body. The mount and sides are of copper treated with patina.
Size: 60 x 30 cm
Close up of brown trout to show detail of metal work and paint. Gold leaf on the eye.
The mount sides are 30mm wide and are of copper with several layers of patina. Copper nails.
Portrait of a Large Salmon
An iconic Scottish salmon. The fish is in relief and very tactile. It is of pewter with acrylic, gold leaf, silver leaf and a thin coat of resin. The mount and sides are brass treated with patina. Brass nails.
Size: 35 x 35 cm
Close up of the salmon to show detailed metal work and colouring. Gold leaf on the eye.
Side view:
The mount sides are also of brass treated with patina. Brass nails. The side of the salmon is finished with silver leaf.
Portrait of a Salmon
A River Tay Salmon. This is of pewter etched and highlighted with black patina, acrylic, gold leaf, silver leaf and finished with a fine coat of resin. The mount is Scottish oak with two strips of copper treated with patina. The sides are copper with patina.
Size: 35 x 35 cm
Close up view of the salmon
Side view: the mount sides are also of copper treated with several coats of patina then a thin coat of resin. Copper nails. The side of the salmon is finished with silver leaf.
Passing Rainbows
A snapshot of two rainbow trout passing upstream. This time the side colouration is pinky colour. The fish are pewter, acrylic, gold leaf and a fine coat of resin to finish. The mount and sides are of copper with many coats of patina.
Size: 35 x 35 cm
Side view (left):
Detail of rainbow trout exiting to the left. The side of the fish is finished with silver leaf.
Side view (right):
Detailed view of the rainbow head. Gold leaf on the eye and silver leaf on the side. The side of the mount is copper treated with patina. Copper nails.
Wild Salmon
Three salmon in the River Tay. Mount is brass with patina
Size: 60 x 30 cm
Close up of one of the salmons
Rainbow Trout Turning
Rainbow trout are have a wonderful colour range especially with the band of orange to red to pink and combinations of these from the cheek running back towards the tail. This one could easily have been in the Tay River in front of me. The fish is of pewter, etched and highlighted with black patina, acrylic, gold leaf and finished with a light coat of resin. The mount and sides are of copper treated many times with layers of patina.
Size: 35 x 35 cm
Side view (right):
The mount sides are also in copper treated with patina and finished with a thin coat of resin. Copper nails.
Portrait of a Mackerel
The mackerel is very well known both for fishing (almost enthusiastic biting into long lines of lures covered with bright feathers) and eating. They are very smooth and very sleek and instantly recognisable. This fish brings back memories of our holiday on the Isle of Colonosay. Pewter with acrylic, silver leaf and finished with resin. The mount is copper which has been treated with two different patinas to create the blue-green colour.
Size: 15 x 15 cm
SOLD
Portrait of a Sea Trout
A sea trout in ocean-going colours before returning to the fresh waters of rivers where they change colour ready for spawning. The males then develop the hook-like extension at the tip of the lower jaw (“kype”). This fish is of pewter, etched, made into relief then coloured with acrylic, gold leaf and finished with a light coat of resin. The copper mount has a colour achieved with many light coats of two different chemical patinas, then finished with a light coat of resin.
Size: 15 x 15 cm
Blue Fin Tuna
Single tuna (pewter with acrylic, silver leaf and resin) on mount of copper with patina
Size: 30 x 10 cm
Commission: SOLD
Large Brown Trout
The Brown Trout has a wonderful and interesting shape. The spots, both brown/black and red/orange are different for each fish. I thoroughly enjoyed drawing this fish and it has ended up 53 cm long. The fish is of pewter and painted with patina, acrylics then accented with gold leaf. Resin as a final couple of coats gives it a wet watery appearance. The mount is brass which has been coated with various patinas.
Size: 120 x 45 cm
Close-up photograph of the Brown trout. The brightness on the tail is a reflection caused by the coats of resin .
Side view of the mount to show the 40mm wide brass edge. It is patina-ed like the front panel.
Brown Trout in the moonlight
A different perspective of these trout. The only added colour are the red spots (see detailed photo) and a small amount of gold leaf to highlight the tails, eyes and gill areas. The moon is silver leaf. The mount is an aluminium base covered with black paint mixed into resin and several coats applied. Whilst the surface of jet black is very attractive, it makes photographing it without the reflections very challenging. The sides are aluminium.
Size: 90 x 40 cm
A close-up view of the two trout to show the details of the individual scales and markings.
Side view to show the side panel of the mount which is aluminium, 50 mm wide.
A pair of rainbow trout
Rainbow Trout are equally special and have a diverse range of colour patterns. The fish are made from pewter, and painted with acrylic and gold leaf, then sealed with resin. The mount is copper which has had several coats of various patinas. The sides are also of copper.
Size: 90 x 40 cm
A close-up photograph to show the details on each fish
Sea Trout Tail
The shape of this piece makes it one of my favourites and it is wonderfully tactile to the touch. The colours are with acrylic paints on sculptured and shaped pewter, then finished with coats of resin to seal it but, in addition, to give the tail a wet watery look. It is inset mounted on resined wood and surrounded by the antiqued copper mount. The mount sides are the same antiqued copper.
Size: 30 x 30 cm (sides: 30 mm)
Not for sale
Detail: Sea Trout Tail showing workings for the fish scales (each individually tapped) and tail
Side view showing 30 mm copper strip with signature panel
Sea Trout Head
To complement the Sea Trout Tail (above), I was commissioned to make this piece of the head of a sea trout. It is contoured and has a nice tactile surface. Gold leaf, acrylic paint and then resin for a glistening finish. The fish head, like the Tail, is inset mounted in a shallow box of painted wood with a depth of 20 mm. The mount is antiqued copper as are the sides.
Size: 30 x 30 cm (sides: 30 mm)
Not for sale
Detail: Sea Trout Head
Side view showing copper strip with signature panel.
Rainbow Trout: Against the current
The three Rainbow Trout are made in pewter with acrylics and gold leaf. The mount is copper, antiqued with patina, which with the three fish are painted with resin to give a watery look. The top strip of the mount is bare as “above the water line”. The mount sides are antiqued copper.
Size: 60 x 30 cm (sides: 30 mm)
Side view to show 30 mm copper side
Detail of the two swimming trout
Sea Bream Pair
These two sea bream (dorado) were bought at a fishmonger in Chalais, France, then photographed and sketched on to pewter. Made with black patina, acrylics , gold leaf and resin. The mount is copper antiqued with patina.
Size: 30 x 51 cm (sides: 30 mm)
Detail: Sea Bream pair. (Memories of a very good BBQ)
Side strip (30 mm) with signature panel. The resined and non-resined copper mount is clearly shown.
Brown Trout Rising
I have tried to capture the movement of this brown trout. It is made fro pewter with acrylic, gold leaf and resin. The main part of the mount is created with alchemy of various chemicals on copper to produce the blue-green colour. A little of the underlying natural copper colour comes through in places. The top and bottom strips of copper have been treated with a patina to give the mottled effect.
Size: 51 x 30 cm (sides: 30 mm)
(At Pierhouse Hotel, Port Appin, Scotland)
A more detailed look at the fish and the colouration of the mount.
Mackerel shoal
The Mackerel fish are pewter with acrylic paint , silver leaf and resin. The mount is antiqued copper with different shades of blue resin. The mount sides are antiqued copper.
Size: 30 x 30 cm (sides: 30 mm)
SOLD
Detail: Mackerel fish close up
Side view to show 30 mm copper strip and signature panel
Salmon
This Salmon is again pewter with acrylics, gold leaf and resin. The mount is a repurposed roof slate tile.
Size: 39 x 20 cm
SOLD
Close up of the fish
Juvenile Rainbow Trout
A leaping young rainbow. Fish is pewter with acrylic and resin. The mount is a roof slate tile.
This was a birthday present for my daughter, so not for sale!
Rainbow Trout Head
Rainbow trout are really great fish to work with. The pewter is contoured to resemble the natural shape of the fish. Acrylics, gold leaf and resin. The mount (copper with patina) has a strip of “above the water line”. The sides of the mount are covered with golf leaf.
Size: 30 x 30 (sides: 30 mm)
Close up to show the detail of the pewter work. Each scale is individually tapped and the pewter contoured.
Side view to show the frame and signature panel. The sides are covered with gold leaf.
Salmon on Brass
A swimming salmon. Pewter with acrylic, gold leaf and resin. The mount is brass that has been “aged” with some alchemy then sealed. The sides of the mount are brass.
Size: 50 x 30 cm (sides: 30 mm)
SOLD
side view to show brass strip and signature panel.