Hive mind – Rainbow Bee-Eater

Once I saw the colours and shape of the rainbow bee-eater, I was determined to paint it. The colour choice of the dusky violet behind the bird was chosen to provide a contrast with the greens and gold of the bird. When I found a photo of a scrap of honeycomb wallpaper, the die was cast. The wallpaper itself is interesting, designed in 1881 by the American Candace Wheeler, who was an advocate for the development of women's skills in the service of their financial self-sufficiency. The red chair is a French giltwood fauteuil from the 19th century and was once owned by the French branch of the famous Rothschild banking family.