Monarch Butterfly and Thistle Watercolours

This painting was entered for the Octopus art competition “Portraits from the Precipice” and one of my paintings was displayed on their home page.

This is one of a new series of watercolour butterfly paintings. Many are becoming rare with climate change and pollution.
Extreme weather events such as heatwaves and freezing conditions, which are set to increase under climate change, are generally damaging to butterflies. As the climate changes, extreme weather events including droughts are expected to become more common. Droughts can be a problem for butterflies, especially if they harm the plants upon which caterpillars rely for food. With less food around, populations can crash, and may take several years to recover to pre-drought levels.
While severe droughts have previously only occurred as little as once in 200 years, allowing plenty of time for butterfly populations to recover, with climate changes they will become far more frequent. If greenhouse gas emissions continue to increase at current rates, they might even occur every summer.

The Monarch species is the largest butterfly seen in the British Isles, and is also one of our rarest migrants. This butterfly is known for its ability to migrate across large distances.

Most sightings in the UK are concentrated in the south and west of both England and Ireland. There is a particular concentration in Cornwall and the Scilly Isles.

Original artwork with signed Certificate of Authenticity
W 11.00" x H 15.00"
Media: watercolour
Surface: Painted on heavy quality, Bockingford 300 gsm watercolour paper with artist colours.