Sue Side

Sue specialises in illustration, drawing and portraiture.
She is particularly drawn to the drama of the starling dance against winter skies. She spends most winters (apart from during a pandemic) observing the huge roost at RSPB Otmoor Nature Reserve. This leads to a few works each winter. Thousands of individually ink-drawn birds overlap one another again and again in an attempt to recreate the remarkable fluidity of aerial display. Sue aims to capture the pattern, purpose and togetherness of these starling flocks, as well as their connection to land and water. Watching them is reminiscent of family. A starling murmuration is a story of protection, sharing, gossiping and the joy of homecoming on darker winter days.

Sue’s work is in several private collections. She is a member of The Society of Graphic Fine Art and The Oxford Art Society and has been selected to exhibit with The Royal Society of Portrait Painters, The Society of British Artists and The Society of Graphic Fine Art.