Krysten began practicing the art of taxidermy in 2013 and still pursues this sideline today. Her subjects are a result of found local roadkill, or specimens that people donate to her. Her final major project at University consisted of combination of Graphic Design and Taxidermy, which resulted in her ethical taxidermy brand ‘Taxidermy Co. UK’ which she owns and maintains.
Song thrush painting at dawn, gouache on 45 x 23cm hotpressed paper – 2019
‘The Great Escape’ was inspired when I went to Birdfair 2019, an annual event based in Rutland.
They have an incredible art marquee (which I hope to exhibit at one day) and walking around this year, I realised that nobody had really depicted the song thrush in art.
Kingfishers, Hoopoes, Wallcreepers seemed to be in the limelight, as well as typical British garden birds…but no Song Thrush!
They are such a gorgeous garden visitor, sadly not as many around as there used to be due to lack of habitat from intense agriculture and persecution in places like Cyprus where they illegally trap them in their hundreds. So when I see one in my garden now I think how lucky I am and cherish the connection with them.
I feel they deserved to be in the limelight a bit more, so I decided to paint one. They break up snail shells on rocks and use it as an anvil to get to the juicy snail inside.
I gathered broken snail shells from my garden which the resident song thrush was done with and used them as reference.
My logofolio of projects past and present
Gouache on hotpressed paper, A4, 2018
This is a gouache painting of the gorgeous Manx Shearwater (Puffinus puffinus), painted for a friend as wedding present who worked with seabirds.
I’d like to paint more seabirds actually, they’re really therapeutic to paint!
Gouache, Gold Leaf – 2018
This painting was inspired by the house sparrows that very frequently visit my garden. I think they’re a hugely underrated bird!
I just love the chestnut colours and barring of the male especially. Charming birds to have about in the garden.
I had a really vivid image in my head on how I wanted this one to turn out, and it came out better than I expected.
This painting depicts a flock of Eurasian Oyster Catchers, harnessing fairy lights that are reflecting on the water surface at dusk.
The meaning behind this piece stems from the idea that we all need to stick together and work as a team in these uncertain times.
