Birds are around me every day where I live in Grafton NSW. I enjoy watching them, drawing and then painting them.

Starting in 2018, I was commissioned to make a series of paintings for the new dementia residences at Doherty Villas in Grafton. I created 40 paintings of the little birds found in the Clarence Valley, capturing their individual character and identity. During my final years of working outdoors where I lived in the bush, I continued to make bird paintings.Having recently moved studios from the bush to an industrial shed in Grafton I set about using the more controlled studio environment to refine the composition and painting techniques.

The bird paintings have developed from first response, loose marks quickly made in the bush, to now being more about taking time with considered mark making, composition and colour. Spending the time on design, drawing and finally painting.’ The paintings have evolved into a larger form deconstructing the composition into simple identifiable shapes. I have also advanced the composition using two or more birds to make a conversation within.

I have really enjoyed making this body of work as painting birds brings colour and joy into my art practice.

- Robert Moore 2025

Subiaco Gallery
18 September - 6 October 2025