Few insects stop you in your tracks quite like the Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui). With its vivid mosaic of orange, black, and white — intricate as stained glass — it’s one of the most recognisable and widely distributed butterflies in the world, yet every sighting feels like a small privilege.
The Painted Lady is a long-distance migrant, travelling from North Africa and southern Europe to reach the UK each summer. Numbers vary dramatically year to year depending on conditions in its wintering grounds, which makes a good year feel all the more special. On warm, sunny days they are restless and energetic, rarely settling for long — making them a rewarding but challenging subject for the camera.
