The capercaillie, ’The Horse of the Wood’ a literal translation from 16th century Scottish Gaelic, capull coille.

The biggest of black grouse, this impressive heavy bird was hunted to extinction in Scotland in the 1800s, numbers low due to the poor state of the forests at that time and an increase in the fox population who steal the chicks, chicks also affected by chill due to wet summers at the time.

'Encompassing all the ingredients of composition, construction, presence, attitude and energy I adore to describe in my work. The magnificent ruffled black neck feather, piercing glare of the ferocious eye,the taffeta-like fan wheel of tail feather, and sturdy grouse leg and foot all aspects to guarantee an all consuming journey for me in charcoal. 

I was fortunate to speak with Peter Cairns, Executive Director of Scotland The Big Picture, an important ongoing evolving rewilding process of nature recovery leading to restoring ecosystem health, function and completeness of ecological recovery, describing my desire to come to Scotland to photograph one of the males in the height of their season to draw in large scale for my exhibition.

He explained to me that due to their scarcity and dislike of human scrutiny, it would be impossible for me to gain a government approved licence for one of a handful of hides, reserved for scientific purposes and wildlife filmmaking, but he was happy to send me photographs from his personal library.

I used a combination of these with photography from the wildlife filmmaker and friend, Martin Haywood Smith who was granted access. I also had the chance to see and observe detail of a young male at Watatunga, although he was too shy to display, and they have kindly released pictures from a hidden camera capturing the moment.

The blackest of blacks, with intricate white lacing on the tail fan and a sharp beady eye on the observer, I could feel the intense ferocity of this powerful bird moving and clicking his way through the dawn light of the forest, at once attracting whilst repelling, I was caught up in the profound energy of describing this magnificent animal. An energetic draw.' - Lucy Boydell

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