The original photo for this painting was taken nearby Gatehouse of Fleet, Dumfries and Galloway as a heron stood on a small rocky island covered in a tangle of seaweed. It was early evening with low light and the heron blended in to the grey ebbing sea. The image I captured gave me the stance I was looking for, but lacked detail, therefore I used other reference photos to re-create the spectacular feathering and colourful legs and beak. The black pastel background is in stark contrast to the muted blues and greys of the subject.