Pigeon power is behind a surprising artistic venture by one woman from Ellesmere.
Sophie James, 21, has been earning extra cash by selling artwork created by her pigeons.
Since March 2025, she has made around £1,200 from selling the colourful pieces through Vinted for £8 each.
Using pigeons named Blizzard, Brock, Pip, and Seagall, Ms James applies paint to their feet and lets them walk across small canvases.
Each abstract artwork is then sold online.
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Ms James, an adult support worker who has grown up around racing pigeons, decided to get creative with the birds after a suggestion from her friend Ella Woodland, who had success selling artwork made by her pet rats.
Ms James said: "It was just my friend with the rat paintings, she said ‘do it with the pigeons’ so I gave it a go.
"I try and do it when they are babies so they get used to it and kind of grow it once they begin racing.
"Brock – he was 20 days old when I started it.
"From March last year to now I've made roughly £1,200. Mainly it goes towards the pigeons for the corn and putting them into races, basically."
Ms James now posts up to five new pieces each week, and has expanded the project to seven pigeons in total.
She said: "I get Brock or whichever pigeon it is for that day and hold them, put paint onto their feet, put them on the canvas and let them walk around basically.
"I keep switching out the colours and that’s it. I love it. It connects me to them in a way."
Her customers have responded enthusiastically, with some requesting multiple pieces.
Ms James said: "I’ve been getting messages from people to order more than one painting saying they love it, and saying they’re going to surprise people with them."
Although most of her earnings are reinvested into pigeon care and race entries, she has managed to put a little aside into savings.
She races and raises four different pigeon breeds: grizzle, check pied, blue bar, and mealy.
Inspired by the positive response to her artwork, Ms James plans to continue.
She said: "I’m going to see how long it lasts and see how it goes."
Her pigeon art can be found on Vinted under @s0ph.jam and on Instagram at @pigeons_paint.
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