This series of paintings were a response to seeing wooden figures from the 19th and early 20th century that had been placed beside beehives in the Dolomite region of Northern Italy, in the hope of deterring marauding bears from attacking the hives.
The original figures were painted to look like soldiers, huntsman and foresters from the time of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

My versions use masks from around the world and various botanical or ethnographic specimens that were painted in the Botanic Gardens, Edinburgh, or from my own or friends personal collections.

Each painting stands guard around the Beehive which is painted on all sides to represent the activity of the bee colony within.