Fairies Lost

In 2024 I read an article about the Xerses Blue a butterfly that went extinct in the San Fransico Bay area of the US. I was so moved by this that I began a series of paintings depicting fairies based on butterflies that have gone extinct in recent history around the world.

Globally, butterfly populations are facing significant declines due to habitat loss, climate change, and pesticide use, leading to concerns about the health of ecosystems and the potential loss of pollinators.

The number of butterflies in the U.S. has dropped 22% since 2000. The numbers of grassland butterflies across Europe declined by 36% between 2011 and 2020. In Singapore a study in Science Direct revealed that 46% of Singapore's butterfly species have disappeared over the last 160 years, with 132 species now locally extinct. The list of butterfly extinctions goes on.

The loss of these butterflies is horrific and a tangible warning  of climate change and habitat loss. The loss of so many butterfly species is truly heartbreaking.

I paint fairies showcasing extinct and red list endangered butterflies because they inspire me to keep their memory alive. Each painting includes the wing design of the butterfly, the food plant or host plant of that butterfly and the people of the country where they used to be found. I truly did not understand how significant this  would be when I started.

If you know of an extinct or red listed endangered butterfly I should showcase or if you study butterflies and their conservation I would appreciate hearing from you. loveheatherstudios@gmail.com