Born in West Yorkshire, Darren Woodhead has lived in East Lothian for twenty-five years. His new solo show Close to Home at the The Scottish Ornithologists’ Club in Aberlady showcases his relationship to the natural world; painting outside on location, working directly from life, his paintings convey the freshness and energy from being in nature, often in demanding conditions – something he describes as an ‘anchor’ in recent months.

A widely-exhibited member of the Society of Wildlife Artists, Darren says, ‘Although the world has changed, my need to observe, document and record through watercolour has not. Even more so now, it is my escape, my sense of serenity and belonging. Many of the paintings have stemmed from observing birds in the garden or from ‘one man on his bike’ trips in the field. Here, I could immerse myself in the changing seasons and the parallel natural world, and feel the ultimate connection to my subject, close to home.’