So you've found the print. A pheasant caught mid-strut, a partridge in full French finery, swallows cutting across a summer sky. Now comes the bit that trips up almost everyone browsing game bird prints: framed or unframed?
It's a fair question, and it comes up in the studio more than any other. Here are straight answers to the ones we hear most.
What's the difference between a framed and unframed print?
The artwork is identical. Every Jack Fethers print is reproduced from an original hand-painted piece, signed by hand, and made to the same standard whether it leaves the studio framed or rolled in a tube.
The difference is purely about finishing. A framed print arrives ready to hang: it's mounted, glazed and set in a frame Jack has chosen to suit the artwork. An unframed print arrives as the print alone, so you decide the frame later - or skip it altogether.
Neither is the "better" option. It's about how much control you want and how much you fancy doing yourself.
When should you buy a framed print?
Buy framed when you want zero fuss and an instant result. The most common reasons we hear:
- It's a gift and you want it to arrive ready to hang on the day.
- You want a colour and finish you know works, without a trip to the framers.
- The print is going straight on the wall of a room you've already sorted.
- You'd rather not handle glass and mounts yourself.
A framed game bird print makes an easy, confident present - particularly for a birthday, a house move or a Christmas that's crept up on you. It lands, it goes up, job done.
When should you buy unframed?
Unframed wins when you want to make the framing part of the piece. Choose unframed if:
- You've got a specific frame in mind, or a wall of matching frames to keep consistent.
- You want a bespoke mount with more breathing room around the bird.
- You're framing around an interior scheme - a dark oak, a limed wood, a simple black.
- You want to spend less now and frame later.
- You're shipping it abroad or popping it in a suitcase.
Unframed prints are also the better bet if you're not sure yet where it's going. Hang it temporarily with clips, live with it for a week, then commit to a frame once you've seen how the light falls on it.
Which sizes suit which walls?
Size is where most people hesitate, and it's simpler than it looks.
As a rule of thumb:
- A4 is ideal for a small hallway, a study nook, a shelf ledge or a gallery wall of several smaller prints.
- A3 is the friendly all-rounder. It holds its own alone above a sideboard and sits comfortably in a mixed cluster.
- A2 and A1 are statement sizes. Give them a full wall, a wide chimney breast or the space above a sofa or bed, and let the bird do the talking.
A single large print often beats a scatter of small ones. If you've got a big blank wall and one wonderful pheasant, go big and let it breathe. Space around a print is what makes it feel considered rather than squeezed.
Can you frame an unframed print at home?
Yes - and you've got three sensible routes.
The easy route is an off-the-shelf frame in a standard size. Buy the print in A4, A3, A2 or A1 and it'll drop straight into a ready-made frame. This is the quickest, cheapest way to get a game bird print on the wall.
The middle route is a professional framer. They'll cut a mount to suit, talk you through glazing (go for anti-glare if the wall catches sun) and build something that lasts.
The handmade route is doing it yourself: print, mount board, backing and a frame that takes your fancy. It's more work, but you end up with something nobody else has - which, if you've read this far, is probably the point.
A few things that genuinely matter if you're framing at home: keep the print out of direct sunlight so the colours hold, use acid-free mount board so the paper doesn't yellow, and give the artwork a little air so it isn't pressed flat against the glass.
Which frame colour suits a game bird print?
There's no rule, but there is a reliable instinct. Dark wooden frames let the rich colour of a pheasant or partridge sing. Pale limed or natural wood keeps things airy and country-cottage. A simple black frame makes the artwork feel modern and gallery-like - and fits a monochrome interior beautifully.
If the print is going in a room of mixed woods and soft whites, a slim black or natural frame will rarely let you down.
Still torn? Let the gift decide
If it's a present and you're not sure of the recipient's taste, go framed. It's the safer, kinder option - everything's done, and there's nothing left for them to sort out.
If it's for your own wall and you enjoy the finishing touches, go unframed and make it yours.
Either way, you're getting the same hand-signed print from the same studio. The bird doesn't mind one bit.
Browse the full range of signed game bird and British bird art prints, and choose framed or unframed at checkout - or commission something bespoke if you've got a particular bird in mind.