This beautiful tūī sits perched on a trunk, with a knowing look in it's eye, surveying the ocean beyond. The contrast between the colour, texture and shape of the feathers gives the plummage an almost pattern-like, abstract quality. Once I really started studying the tūī up close, I realised the magic of it's plummage - a black bird that doesn't have a single black feather on it!

This piece was inspired by the beautiful tūī I encounter on my holidays in the Coromandel. For those of you familiar with the Coromandel coast, you will recognise the land in the background - a close-up of Slipper Island.

• Watercolour on 600gsm cotton rag
• The original has sold, but this is available as a beautiful giclee print here