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Wildlife
Animals have always been a favourite subject for me. They are full of character and a huge variety of textures, shapes and sizes. It is such a delightful challenge to make them come to life on the page.
Birds
![](http://pamelaruddy.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/wl_b_duck-1024x808.jpg)
![](http://pamelaruddy.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/wl_b_dunnock-1024x705.jpg)
![](http://pamelaruddy.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/wl_b_great-1024x744.jpg)
![](http://pamelaruddy.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/wl_b_heron-1024x704.jpg)
![](http://pamelaruddy.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/wl_b_kingfisher-1024x821.jpg)
![](http://pamelaruddy.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/wl_b_penguin-1024x720.jpg)
![](http://pamelaruddy.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/wl_b_seagull-1024x751.jpg)
![](http://pamelaruddy.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/wl_b_snowyowl-1024x809.jpg)
![](http://pamelaruddy.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/wl_b_soaring-1024x717.jpg)
![](http://pamelaruddy.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/wl_b_wren-1024x730.jpg)
![](http://pamelaruddy.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/wl_b_blackbird.jpg)
![](http://pamelaruddy.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/wl_b_blue-692x1024.jpg)
![](http://pamelaruddy.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/wl_b_coal-716x1024.jpg)
![](http://pamelaruddy.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/wl_b_crow-747x1024.jpg)
![](http://pamelaruddy.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/wl_b_owl-705x1024.jpg)
![](http://pamelaruddy.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/wl_b_robin-712x1024.jpg)
![](http://pamelaruddy.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/wl_b_sparrow-721x1024.jpg)
![](http://pamelaruddy.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/wl_b_yellowhammer-721x1024.jpg)
Mammals
![](http://pamelaruddy.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/wl_m_badger-1024x665.jpg)
![](http://pamelaruddy.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/wl_m_fox-crouching.jpg)
![](http://pamelaruddy.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/wl_m_hare-1024x712.jpg)
![](http://pamelaruddy.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/wl_m_leopard-1024x819.jpg)
![](http://pamelaruddy.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/wl_m_orcas-1024x768.jpg)
![](http://pamelaruddy.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/wl_m_polarbear-1024x785.jpg)
![](http://pamelaruddy.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/wl_m_snowfox-1024x772.jpg)
![](http://pamelaruddy.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/wl_m_squirrel-1024x819.jpg)
![](http://pamelaruddy.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/wl_m_stag-1024x665.jpg)
![](http://pamelaruddy.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/wl_m_zebra-1024x731.jpg)
![](http://pamelaruddy.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/wl_m_wolf-651x1024.jpg)
Blue Horse Series
I was inspired by Eric Carle’s picture book “The Artist Who Painted a Blue Horse” to create a series of animals of unusual colour.
![](http://pamelaruddy.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/ec_bluehorse-808x1024.jpg)
![](http://pamelaruddy.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/ec_greenlion-775x1024.jpg)
![](http://pamelaruddy.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/ec_pinkrabbit-1024x702.jpg)
![](http://pamelaruddy.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/ec_redcroc-1024x712.jpg)
![](http://pamelaruddy.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/ec_donkey-1024x716.jpg)
![](http://pamelaruddy.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/ec_purplefox-1024x724.jpg)
![](http://pamelaruddy.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/ec_yellow-cow-1024x815.jpg)
Landscapes
I live in Montrose on the northeast coast of Scotland and I am inspired by the rugged beauty of the surrounding countryside, the coast and hills.
The glancing winter sun and long summer days in the north make it a special place to chase the light.
![](http://pamelaruddy.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/ls_collie-1024x711.jpg)
![](http://pamelaruddy.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/ls_elliot.jpg)
![](http://pamelaruddy.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/ls_geese-1024x734.jpg)
![](http://pamelaruddy.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/ls_sunset-1024x731.jpg)
![](http://pamelaruddy.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/ls_waterfall-1024x770.jpg)
Plein Air Studies
I am falling in love with painting outdoors, ‘en plein air’. Working outdoors and capturing the light and feel of a place, in the moment, is an engaging, and somewhat addictive, challenge. I have had some magical experiences painting outdoors.
![](http://pamelaruddy.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/ls_pa_dune.jpg)
![](http://pamelaruddy.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/ls_pa_montrosebeach.jpg)
![](http://pamelaruddy.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/ls_ps_saltpans.jpg)
![](http://pamelaruddy.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/ls_pa_daffodils.jpg)
![](http://pamelaruddy.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/ls_pa_montrosebasin.jpg)
Portraits
We have a spectacular ability to recognise our loved ones and their moods from small details in their features and expressions. This makes portrait painting a challenge, I choose references that capture something of the person’s spirit and lean into that feeling.
![](http://pamelaruddy.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/p_brothers-768x1024.jpg)
![](http://pamelaruddy.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/p_baby.jpg)
Pets
Of course, pets are part of the family too. From the familiar dogs and cats to the more exotic furred, feathered and scaley companions.
![](http://pamelaruddy.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/pp_cats-1024x733.jpg)
![](http://pamelaruddy.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/pp_lab.jpg)
![](http://pamelaruddy.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/pp_blackcat-1024x698.jpg)
![](http://pamelaruddy.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/pp_jack-1024x666.jpg)
![](http://pamelaruddy.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/pp_bracken.jpg)
![](http://pamelaruddy.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/pp_maria-scaled.jpg)
![](http://pamelaruddy.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/pp_clyde-1024x760.jpg)
![Highland Pony Portrait in Pastels](http://pamelaruddy.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/pp_blair-768x1024.jpg)
![](http://pamelaruddy.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/pp_belle.jpg)
![](http://pamelaruddy.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/pp_cat.jpg)
Coloured Pencils
Although I mainly work in soft pastels, I also enjoy the precision of coloured pencils.
![](http://pamelaruddy.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/cp_barnowl-1024x717.jpg)
![](http://pamelaruddy.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/cp_seagull.jpg)
Graphite
I started with graphite pencils, you can learn so much of drawing with very affordable supplies.
![](http://pamelaruddy.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/gr_family-1024x731.jpg)
![](http://pamelaruddy.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/gr_son-1024x731.jpg)