Carl Whitfield was a constant exhibitor at Beckstones Art Gallery for more than twenty years during which time a large proportion of his work has passed through this gallery, earning for him a huge following of collectors. Born in Yorkshire in 1958, Carl left school to pursue a career in commercial management but after several years he returned to his first love, painting, and decided to make it his life’s work. Having undertaken no formal training, Carl Whitfield closely studied wildlife and farm animals, spending the next few years practising and perfecting his technique. His main influences were the eminent English artists Grimshaw, Hunt and Herring. Carl now paints well-observed traditional farmyard scenes and wildlife in close detail and vibrant tones, specialising in miniature style detailed paintings in oils. His reputation developed as the leading painter of chickens in the country, and he soon added ducks, mice, badgers, red squirrels, foxes, hedgehogs, birds and numerous other countryside creatures to his repertoire. He occasionally paints still life of a stunning, three-dimensional quality. The hallmark of Carl’s work is the particularly fine detail and intense rich colours, resulting in a painting of rare quality, depth and great charm. Carl Whitfield paintings are widely collected both in the UK and around the world.