Artist and Illustrator Dougie Harley was born in Aberdeen, Scotland in 1985 and grew up in and around the historic village of Fettercairn at the foot of the Grampian mountains.

Harley is a dedicated nature artist, drawing inspiration from the beauty and intricacy of the natural world. His love for nature was sparked early, spending hours outdoors observing birds, animals, and landscapes. This deep connection fuels a desire to capture the essence of wildlife through his art.

His work goes beyond simple representation; it’s about evoking an emotional response and encouraging viewers to pause and appreciate the delicate beauty of nature. Through his art, Harley hopes to inspire a greater awareness of the natural world and foster a sense of responsibility toward its preservation.

On his popular starling murmuration pieces -

'Being from rural Scotland, I’ve grown up very attached to the outdoors and nature. Birds are a massive inspiration to me, during 'the pandemic' I found myself drawn more to using them as inspiration (maybe something to do with freedom). 

Murmurations are one of the most beautiful spectacles in the world and luckily for me, I find drawing them like therapy. I can just look up and use the sky itself for inspiration and to capture the movement of a Murmuration, I just let my imagination do the work. I never know what shape the Murmuration is going to take until I’ve finished - it often shifts and changes on the paper, a bit like the real thing.'