"Ladybirds, to me, are both a symbol of childhood wonder and a reassuring presence in the garden. We are all familiar with ladybirds and they have lots of different, positive interpretations associated with them. Having spent more time observing them this Spring, with my young daughter, I have noticed how different they are from each other. They vary enormously in colour and pattern but they all appear like shiny little jewels hidden amongst the leaves. I wanted to create a series of ladybird paintings that were just as perfectly small and decorative as the insects themselves. These tiny paintings are designed specifically to add a flash of red to a wall, just like the ladybirds do in the garden. I wanted them to be small enough that the viewer must lean in and observe the ladybird closely, just as we do outdoors" - Ollie Tuck.

Ladybird No. 15 carries a subtle sense of movement. Positioned close to the upper edge of the composition, the ladybird appears to be emerging into the picture space itself, as though she has just crossed the threshold of the vivid red inner frame and begun her slow passage across the gold leaf ground. Her darkened crimson shell, mottled with softly irregular markings, gives the piece a slightly weathered, living quality, heightened by Ollie’s textured and instinctive brushwork. The bold red surround intensifies this impression of entry and motion, drawing the eye inward while amplifying the warmth of the gold surface beneath.