Name: Heart of Glass
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Paul Harfleet’s ongoing artwork, Birds Can Fly, uses his illustrations and gentle references to educate and inspire bird lovers and promote creativity, kindness and acceptance, encouraging an inclusive community of ornithologists and naturalists. He ‘gently references’ his drawings with his own wardrobe, make-up skills and home-made props to echo the plumage of the birds he loves. He shares his research about the history of ornithology and the often controversial cultural context of those that built the subject on his blog.

During summer and autumn 2023, Paul visited St Helens and Knowsley delivering workshops for local primary schools and for people of all ages. During each workshop, Paul shared his passion and knowledge of various species and encouraged attendees to draw their own images of birds. Paul also shared his tips for ‘gentle referencing’ - the term he uses to describe his work - for everyone to get creative with their own bird-inspired looks at home.

Then, as part of the opening weekend of A Sense of Green at Incredible Edible, Paul invited families to dress up as a bird of their choosing, for a bird-watching walk around Court Hey Park. Illustrations from the workshops were exhibited, and attendees were invited to strike a pose for a photoshoot capturing their gently referenced ornithological looks.

A little boy with blue and red make up on his face, a red feather on his head and a light blue scarf draped over his shoulders smiles at the camera with his arms spread out like wings as Paul takes his photo next to a clothes rail. — Photo by Jazamin Sinclair

Paul looks into a bush with binoculars. A little girl standing next to him points at something in the bush. — Photo by Jazamin Sinclair

Paul stands behind a tripod taking a little girl's photo, the girl is posing with one leg bent and the other stretched out, leaning to the side, she is wearing all green with a green feather on her head. In the background another little girl dances with a pink silk scarf and a rainbow skirt. — Photo by Jazamin Sinclair

Kids and adults walk excitedly through the park. Paul peers from behind a tree smiling, two kids hug the same tree. Some of the children are holding binoculars. — Photo by Jazamin Sinclair

A family is looking at the exhibition of the children's gently referenced bird drawings. The little boy in the photo is pointing at a drawing, wearing an adult's blue shirt that goes down to his knees, and a mint green scarf wrapped around his head and shoulders. — Photo by Jazamin Sinclair

Paul is photographed at the Avian Able. He is looking up towards the sky and pointing. There are families in the background looking around in the same direction as hime, a little boy look through binoculars. — Photo by Jazamin Sinclair

Paul kneels down and points to something in the sky whilst two children next to him look in the same direction with binoculars. — Photo by Jazamin Sinclair

A large group of kids and adults are in the park, Paul is pointing at something in the sky. — Photo by Jazamin Sinclair

Inspired by these experiences, and the birds he encountered around Merseyside, Paul created a limited edition collection of postcards, featuring local birds. Illustrated and gently referenced are:

The golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos) was drawn and gently referenced especially for this project and was inspired by the Shakespeare North Playhouse production of Macbeth
The mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) shows how Paul Harfleet uses many materials to gently reference the birds he illustrates. This piece was made for an appearance on Winterwatch on BBC Two, in early 2023
The chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs) made an appearance on Paul’s first research visit to St Helens - he was delighted to have identified it by song alone
The canary (Serinus canaria forma domestica) is included in this collection as it is associated with the mining industry, which once dominated the areas surrounding St Helens
The blackbird (Turdus merula) is one of Britain’s favourite birds and is included here as it featured on Paul’s second visit to St Helens, when Paul led students from Malvern Primary School on a birdwatching tour
Nuttall’s woodpecker (Dryobates nuttallii) is included here to mark the life of Thomas Nuttall who settled in St Helens after exploring Canada and the USA as an influential ornithologist and botanist.

Paul Harfleet dressed up as a golden eagle, he wears brown trousers and a brown leather jacket. His hands are dusted in gold as are his cheekbones. He has Dark smoky eyeshadow on and blonde slicked back hair. Next to him is a detailed illustration of a Golden Eagle.

Paul Harfleet is photographed dressed up as a Mallard. He wears a tweed jacket with a blue pocket square and a green head piece. His eyeshadow is emerald green and spreads up to his temples. Next to him is a detailed illustration of a mallard.

Paul Harfleet is photographed dressed up as a chaffinch, he is wearing a charcoal blue shirt and tie, a peach blazer and a black and white wool coat. His eye shadow is turquoise on top and he has orange eye liner underneath his eyes. His hair is grey and slicked back. Next to him is a detailed illustration of a chaffinch bird.

Paul Harfleet is photographed dressed up as a Canary, he has a yellow shirt on with the collar folded up, yellow eyeshadow and a red bangle on his wrist. Next to him is a detailed illustration of a canary.

Paul Harfleet is photographed dressed up as a Blackbird. He wears a black polar neck jumper and a black blazer. His hair is medium length, grey and Curley and is slicked back out of his face. His eye shadow is orange. Next to him is a detailed illustration of a Blackbird.

Paul Harfleet is photographed dressed up as a Nuttall’s woodpecker, he is wearing a black blazer with a black corset underneath, a black and white striped scarf over one shoulder and a black, white and red feather head piece. His Eye make up is black and white, the black eye shadow coming from his eyeliner sweeps up towards his temples. Next to him is a detailed illustration of the Nuttall’s woodpecker.

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Top Tips for Gentle Referencing

What is 'gentle referencing' and how can you create a bird-inspired look?

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Part of A Sense of Green.

About the Artist

Paul Harfleet

With support from

Workshops were presented in partnership with Shakespeare North Playhouse and St Helens Libraries. Original artwork supported by Arts Council England’s Creative People and Places programme, and St Helens Cultural Hubs.

Paul Harfleet's Gentle References and the Birds of Macbeth

For A Sense of Green, we've invited artist Paul Harfleet to share his knowledge of birds with communities in St Helens and Knowsley. Here he explains how he creates his artwork and 'gentle references'.