Guestling artist honours Gustav, the pigeon who brought news of D-Day
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Guestling artist who has always been creative, but only began painting on paper on 25 July this year, has created a remembrance painting honouring one of the Second World War's most remarkable messengers.
Michelle Rose's mixed-media painting, The First Messenger, commemorates Gustav, the RAF messenger pigeon who carried the first news of the D-Day landings back across the Channel on 6 June 1944. Gustav flew to RAF Thorney Island in Sussex and was later awarded the Dickin Medal, often called the animals' Victoria Cross.
The painting shows Gustav against a dramatic Channel seascape, with wartime aircraft, ships, a soldier and remembrance poppies.
Michelle said: "I wanted to honour the animals and people who served. Gustav's story deserves to be remembered, and with Remembrance Sunday approaching, it felt like the right time to share it."
The painting is not for sale. Michelle is offering it to local museums for display over the Remembrance period.
More of Michelle's work can be seen at michelleroseart.co.uk.