Bumble Bee

Warrior Bumble

I have always been intrigued by bees both visually and behaviourally. The way they work so hard as a team, the way they make one of the most delicious treats known to humans just by harvesting tiny droplets of nectar from the flowers we see in our gardens, BUT, they also have a sting! One day on our walk to school through the cemetery my son suddenly screamed out in pain.....he had been stung on the head by a massive bumble. I had always taught my children that bees are gentle and busy and only stung if you annoyed them; this is obviously true, but sadly not on this occasion! I quickly ran over to Oscar and parted his thick hair to see where the sting had happened. I saw a white sac of fluid on the surface of his scalp. I later realised that this was the venom sac attached to the stinger and that once the bee has stung, it will die. I gently scraped the sting and venom off his head with my fingernail and Oscar's screams soon subsided. There was something poignant in that moment - I had managed to stop the venom entering my son's body and he was fine, but the bee was dead. I saw a parallel between my actions and those of the bee, we as parents will do anything to protect our families even sacrifice ourselves, just like bees. This moment made me fall in love with bees all over again, I began to see them not only as beautiful honey producers, but also protectors. I painted this picture after the incident for Oscar to try and ensure he did not develop a fear of these beautiful creatures, I wanted to capture each delicate hair and translucent membrane, to help him see their visual intricacy and not focus on the pain the bee had caused him. 

I meticulously paint the original image in gouache. The Giclée print is reproduced from the original painting and is created on xpression textured 300gsm archival paper, ensuring that the quality and texture enhance the visual depth of the image. Each print is unique; I apply gold leaf by hand, adding a distinctive touch that reflects my artistic process. This handcrafted approach means that no two prints are ever exactly the same, making each piece a truly original work of art infused with my personal touch. I sign each print by hand and add the edition number. Ideal for bird lovers and art enthusiasts alike, this print brings a touch of nature's beauty into any space.