“I haven't done a lot of fox paintings until recently,” says artist Daniel Smith. “We have fox around our home and recently had very regular visits over a two week period from a cross fox which is darker in coloration than this red fox. Fox are very shy, always on the move and somewhat difficult to photograph in the wild. This fox has taken a high vantage point in his relentless search for rodents.”

Red fox (Vulpes vulpes) has a wide distribution and adapts quickly which is why its population has increased alongside that of man. They are omnivores, eating berries and bugs, but prefer squirrel, rabbits, mice and other small mammals.