Picture Profile 2501: Martens’ Way © Artist Code 2501. ORIGINAL Water colour on Aquarelle Arches 100% cotton rag 140lbs size 16” x 12”. Completed 9th May 2025.
I had a beautiful backdrop photograph taken in a local wood some years ago and thought this would make a wonderful background to a painting but could not think what to put with it. After watching a lovely programme about Pine Martens on the television, I decided that the woodland “alley” in my photograph was just the kind of habitat where Pine Martens like to play, so I have put the two elements together in this composition.
Although Pine Martens spend much time in trees (they love ancient woodlands and forests), they do come to ground to forage for small mammals but also for berries; also, bird eggs are an apparent treat for them, having been caught on camera (Loch Arkaig) stealing eggs from an Osprey nest.
It has recently come to notice that Pine Martens also prey on grey squirrels, so that may even things up a bit and help to save our native red squirrels? Although very agile with strong, large claws and thick fur on the soles of their feet, if Pine Martens do happen to fall they are able to twist in the air like cats and land on their feet – I wonder if they also have “nine lives”!