Chough

Chough

This small painting presents a chough in mid-flight, its glossy black plumage sharply contrasted by a vivid red beak. The bird moves with quiet assurance, gliding between trees and open sky, its form reduced to a bold, almost heraldic silhouette that emphasises both elegance and strength.Once lost as a breeding species in Cornwall in 1973, the chough’s return in 2001 marked a significant conservation success. Now with a population of around 200 birds in the county, it has become a living emblem of recovery and renewal, closely tied to Cornwall’s natural and cultural identity.Alongside this ecological narrative runs a deeper layer of myth. Cornish folklore tells that King Arthur did not die, but was transformed into a chough, his red beak and legs echoing the violence of his final battle. In this way, the bird carries an enduring sense of legend and mystery. The painting distils these intertwined histories—ecological and mythical—into a simple, symbolic image

Acrylic on canvas in a white wood frame
Framed 17.5 × 17.5 cm