Portraits of prize-winning racing pigeons are the latest must-haves in decorative collecting circles, judging by a recent spate of high prices in the regions.
Chief among the artists who painted such pictures is Andrew Beer (1862-1954), who received numerous commissions by proud racing pigeon owners during the late 19th and early 20th century to depict their prize-winning birds.
Covering mainly the area of Bristol and south Wales, Beer typically painted pigeons at near life-size in side-on view, either singly or in small groups and noting the bird’s name and achievements in text along the bottom.