Spring Daffodils - Reflections on painting flowers & season

Spring is here and all around Aberdeenshire you can spot this beautiful and cheerful flower heralding the return of warmer days. An annual subject for the artist, Howard Butterworth's paintings of daffodils are well known and loved for their joyful portrayal of the spring flower.  Howard's inspiration comes from the flowers beauty and it's  connection to renewal and the arrival of spring.  Skillfully capturing the energy of the season and this special flower, the artworks invite us to immerse ourselves in the beauty and vitality of nature's awakening. 

Every year as spring breathes new life into the landscape, Howard would take to his canvas, setting up in his garden to immortalize the delicate dance of daffodils, capturing not just their vibrant hues but the  essence of the changing season.    For Howard, painting daffodils is yearly tradition deeply rooted in his connection to nature and his garden. Year after year, he would return to his family garden, brush in hand, to observe the subtle shifts in the daffodils' bloom. From the first tentative buds of early spring to the full splendor of their golden blooms,  Howard Butterworth's paintings reflect the passage of time and the beauty of nature's cycle.

Whether painting the flowers as a detailed study or a bold flash of yellow in the landscape, his passion for capturing daffodils has extended beyond his own garden. Throughout his illustrious career, he has sought out these cheerful flowers in every corner of Scotland, the tranquil gardens of his family home to the majestic grounds of Eilean Donan Castle. Often found by ponds, rivers and bodies of water, daffodils and the spring reflections in the landscape providing the perfect backdrop for the artworks. Each location offers a unique perspective, a different interplay of light and shadow, which he skilfully translates onto his canvas. 

What sets Butterworth's daffodil paintings apart is not just their visual beauty but the emotional connection he shares with these flowers. When Butterworth and his family moved home, Howard took with him bulbs of his favourite daffodil varieties, planting them in their new garden. Thus, his paintings not only showcase the daffodils of today but also those of yesteryears, carrying with them memories and nostalgia of different homes over the years.

Every Easter season, in March and April, all around the pond and in his garden at home there is a sea of golden yellow as the daffodils come into bloom!

We are currently  building a catalogue of the remaining collection of Howard's art work, some of which have never been on display or for sale. We have selected some gorgeous original oil daffodil paintings from the archive, along with some spring themed limited edition prints and cards.

Take a look at our Spring Daffodils collection.

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