Fine Art Poster
From £28
A giclée print on 200gsm matte fine art paper, using a twelve-colour process for accurate, fade-resistant colour. Supplied unframed, delivered flat or rolled.
Great Northern Diver - Archibald Thorburn
Regular price
£28.00 GBP
Sale price
£28.00 GBP
Regular price
Archival giclée
Frames arrive ready to hang
Secure checkout
Made to order
Description
A detailed ornithological study of the Great Northern Diver and related species by British wildlife artist Archibald Thorburn.
Archibald Thorburn remains one of the most respected figures in British wildlife art. His approach to ornithological illustration combines scientific precision with a keen sense of the natural environment. This particular work, which features the Great Northern Diver alongside other related species, demonstrates his ability to capture the specific plumage patterns and anatomical details of aquatic birds. Thorburn worked primarily in watercolour, a medium that allowed him to render the soft textures of feathers and the reflective quality of water with great clarity. His compositions often group several specimens together, providing a comprehensive visual reference for the observer. The birds are depicted in various states of activity, from swimming to resting on the shoreline, which gives the viewer a sense of their behaviour in the wild. His work was frequently commissioned for major natural history publications during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. These illustrations were valued for their accuracy, as photography had not yet replaced the need for skilled artists to document species in their natural habitats. Thorburn spent significant time observing birds in the Scottish Highlands, which informed the authenticity of his depictions. The muted colour palette used here reflects the natural tones of the birds and their surroundings, avoiding unnecessary embellishment. The focus remains entirely on the biological characteristics of the subjects, presented with a clarity that is typical of his professional output. This print offers a glimpse into the tradition of British natural history illustration, where the artist acted as both a chronicler and a keen observer of the natural world. The work is a clear example of the technical skill required to produce high-quality plates for scientific volumes of the era.
Return policy
Because every print is made to order, we don't offer change-of-mind returns, refunds or exchanges. If your order arrives faulty, damaged or incorrect, we'll replace it free of charge — just contact us within 48 hours of delivery. See our refunds page for full details.
Shipping
We ship worldwide, printing at the production hub nearest to your delivery address. Delivery times and costs vary by destination — you'll see the options available to you at checkout.
Manufacturing
Each print is produced to order using 12-colour giclée printing on FSC-certified archival paper. Designed in Britain and printed at your nearest production hub to reduce waste and speed up delivery.
Complete The Look
Great Northern Diver - Archibald Thorburn
Regular price
From £28.00 GBP
Sale price
From £28.00 GBP
Regular price
Fine Art Poster / A4 (21x29.7 cm) / -
Artist Biography
Archibald Thorburn
Thorburn's father was Robert Thorburn, Queen Victoria's favourite miniature painter. The elder Thorburn was exacting: he tore up his son's weaker sketches. Archibald learned early that accuracy was not optional.
He began as a sportsman, attending shooting parties at Sandringham and sketching the birds he helped kill. Sometime before the turn of the century he wounded a hare and heard it scream. He hung up his gun permanently and spent the rest of his career painting the wildlife he had previously hunted. The shift from sportsman to conservationist is the central event of his life, though he rarely discussed it publicly.
He worked almost exclusively in watercolour, deeming oils too heavy and lifeless for the task of rendering a bird in its habitat. He enhanced his watercolours with tempera and Chinese white, achieving a luminosity that made the feathers glow. Each painting is a field study: the bird is anatomically correct, the vegetation is botanically identifiable, and the light belongs to a specific time of day in a specific season. His favourite haunt was the Forest of Gaick near Kingussie in the Scottish Highlands, where he first saw ptarmigan in 1883.
In his last years he refused electric lighting in his studio, preferring natural light and candles. He illustrated several editions of Swaysland's Familiar Wild Birds, produced Christmas cards that sold in enormous quantities, and became the most commercially successful wildlife painter in British history.
He taught Otto Murray Dixon and Philip Rickman, and when the young Donald Watson visited him in Dumfries and Galloway, Thorburn encouraged him to continue. The tradition of British bird painting runs through his studio.
He began as a sportsman, attending shooting parties at Sandringham and sketching the birds he helped kill. Sometime before the turn of the century he wounded a hare and heard it scream. He hung up his gun permanently and spent the rest of his career painting the wildlife he had previously hunted. The shift from sportsman to conservationist is the central event of his life, though he rarely discussed it publicly.
He worked almost exclusively in watercolour, deeming oils too heavy and lifeless for the task of rendering a bird in its habitat. He enhanced his watercolours with tempera and Chinese white, achieving a luminosity that made the feathers glow. Each painting is a field study: the bird is anatomically correct, the vegetation is botanically identifiable, and the light belongs to a specific time of day in a specific season. His favourite haunt was the Forest of Gaick near Kingussie in the Scottish Highlands, where he first saw ptarmigan in 1883.
In his last years he refused electric lighting in his studio, preferring natural light and candles. He illustrated several editions of Swaysland's Familiar Wild Birds, produced Christmas cards that sold in enormous quantities, and became the most commercially successful wildlife painter in British history.
He taught Otto Murray Dixon and Philip Rickman, and when the young Donald Watson visited him in Dumfries and Galloway, Thorburn encouraged him to continue. The tradition of British bird painting runs through his studio.
Our Features
Designed for Lasting Impact
Specific Features
Every Solis piece is made to order with archival, gallery-quality materials built to last.
- Museum-grade giclée printing for rich, fade-resistant colour
- Archival matte fine-art paper, FSC-certified
- Multiple sizes and framing options available
- Frames in black, natural wood, dark wood or white
- Framed prints arrive ready to hang
Care & Cleaning
To keep your artwork looking its best:
- Dust gently with a soft, dry cloth
- Avoid prolonged direct sunlight
- Never use liquid cleaners on the print or canvas surface
- Keep in a dry, room-temperature space
- Handle prints with clean, dry hands
Materials & Sizing
Museum-grade giclée on FSC-certified archival matte paper, with framed and canvas options.
- Paper sizes: A4, A3, A2, A1, A0 and B2 (50×70 cm)
- Canvas: XS (20×30 cm) to Large (60×90 cm)
- Frames: black, natural wood, dark wood or white
Made to order
Choose your finish
Every piece is printed to order. These are the five finishes, and what makes each one different.
Fine Art Framed
From £45
The same fine art print in a solid wood frame with UV-protective acrylic glaze and rigid backing. Five frame colours. Arrives ready to hang.
Premium Box Frame
From £85
A deeper solid wood frame: 33mm deep with a 20mm face and Perspex glaze. The print sits unmounted for a clean gallery presentation. Black, white or natural.
Canvas
From £30
Hand-stretched canvas with neat gallery-wrapped edges, giving the artwork surface texture and depth. Arrives ready to hang.
Framed Canvas
From £135
Stretched canvas set in a floating wood frame, our most substantial finish. Arrives ready to hang.
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Damage-free delivery guarantee
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Museum-Quality Materials
Artist Biography
Archibald Thorburn
Thorburn's father was Robert Thorburn, Queen Victoria's favourite miniature painter. The elder Thorburn was exacting: he tore up his son's weaker sketches. Archibald learned early that accuracy was not optional.
He began as a sportsman, attending shooting parties at Sandringham and sketching the birds he helped kill. Sometime before the turn of the century he wounded a hare and heard it scream. He hung up his gun permanently and spent the rest of his career painting the wildlife he had previously hunted. The shift from sportsman to conservationist is the central event of his life, though he rarely discussed it publicly.
He worked almost exclusively in watercolour, deeming oils too heavy and lifeless for the task of rendering a bird in its habitat. He enhanced his watercolours with tempera and Chinese white, achieving a luminosity that made the feathers glow. Each painting is a field study: the bird is anatomically correct, the vegetation is botanically identifiable, and the light belongs to a specific time of day in a specific season. His favourite haunt was the Forest of Gaick near Kingussie in the Scottish Highlands, where he first saw ptarmigan in 1883.
In his last years he refused electric lighting in his studio, preferring natural light and candles. He illustrated several editions of Swaysland's Familiar Wild Birds, produced Christmas cards that sold in enormous quantities, and became the most commercially successful wildlife painter in British history.
He taught Otto Murray Dixon and Philip Rickman, and when the young Donald Watson visited him in Dumfries and Galloway, Thorburn encouraged him to continue. The tradition of British bird painting runs through his studio.
He began as a sportsman, attending shooting parties at Sandringham and sketching the birds he helped kill. Sometime before the turn of the century he wounded a hare and heard it scream. He hung up his gun permanently and spent the rest of his career painting the wildlife he had previously hunted. The shift from sportsman to conservationist is the central event of his life, though he rarely discussed it publicly.
He worked almost exclusively in watercolour, deeming oils too heavy and lifeless for the task of rendering a bird in its habitat. He enhanced his watercolours with tempera and Chinese white, achieving a luminosity that made the feathers glow. Each painting is a field study: the bird is anatomically correct, the vegetation is botanically identifiable, and the light belongs to a specific time of day in a specific season. His favourite haunt was the Forest of Gaick near Kingussie in the Scottish Highlands, where he first saw ptarmigan in 1883.
In his last years he refused electric lighting in his studio, preferring natural light and candles. He illustrated several editions of Swaysland's Familiar Wild Birds, produced Christmas cards that sold in enormous quantities, and became the most commercially successful wildlife painter in British history.
He taught Otto Murray Dixon and Philip Rickman, and when the young Donald Watson visited him in Dumfries and Galloway, Thorburn encouraged him to continue. The tradition of British bird painting runs through his studio.
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