Scroll down to view original watercolour paintings and drawings available direct through this website or at our studio in Margaret River, and, if in Perth, at Aspects of Kings Park and in the SouthWest at Boranup Gallery, Caves Rd Forest Grove WA.

RAINBOW LORIKEETS ON GREVILLEA BANKSII

Rainbow Lorikeets are one of our most populat and most unpopular birds in Australia- it just depends where you live. Noisy as anything especially in a flock and damaging to any tree that is in flower that they like. Notwithstanding, they are now included in our range of paintings feeding on a very natural habitat plant for these birds.

This is a watercolour on Arches 300gsm Hot Pressed Paper and the image dimensions are approximately 53cm x 41cm- there is some variation available for actual framing.At this stage the painting is unframed.

EGENT PARROTS ON A KARRI TREE BRANCH

Regent parrots used to be the most common of Parrots in the wheatbelt early last century. There numbers have dwindled in that part of the world I believe. I saw them for the first time about ten years ago in WA- a pair flew across the Bussel Highway west of Capel, WA. It was about four years later that I started seeing them in Margaret River where they seem to like following the forest along the river alignment. We have them roosting on the Marri and Jarrah trees on out lot in town, here in Margaret River. They fly south-west in the mornings and north-east in the late afternoons when they are here.

This is a watercolour of a pair (the Male bird at the top). Regents are very elegant when flying and have a call that I think resembles the Red-wattle Bird call a wee bit. Once framed the painting would be priced at least $5500 AUD

ROSE MALLEE – EUCALYPTUS RHODANTHA

A small to medium mallee or shrub depending upon the manner in which it is growing. But either way they are beautiful plants with their pendant flower heads and colourful fruit. This small watercolour is of the plant at natural size and the image measures about 32cm x 39cm high.

WHITE-BREASTED ROBINS- A BIASED OUTLOOK

White-breasted Robin’s perch with what I see as a bias, and usually with the head to the left- but I may be wrong on the left. Either way it is a distinctive feature of these “little brown birds” as we bird watchers are prone to describe them as.

The original sold in 30 minutes.

red-capped robins & Acacia drummondii

Red-capped Robins are one of the prettiest little birds that pop-up when wandering through scrub in the inland areas. Because I also like Acacia drummondii a lot I thought that they might pair up pretty well.

HOODED ROBINS- IT’S SPRINGTIME

Hooded Robins are a bird that I love to come across in dry areas of the country, but the reference books suggest that they even come as for south as we are in the SW of WA. I’d love to see that!

This small watercolour portrait is the first of a few smaller birds that have been waiting for some time to be painted. So more small bird paintings to come.

SULPHUR-CRESTED COCKATOO ON A Kapoc Bush

 Sulphur-crested Cockatoo Cacatua galerita perched on a Kapok Bush Cochlospermum fraseri with Cockburn Range, in the Kimberly Region, WA, in the background

Sulphur-crested Cockatoos may be thought of as an eastern coast species in Australia. They are, however, a common species across the North of Australia where they may be found in small flocks to huge numbers in agricultural areas. The northern sub-species C.g fitzroyi has a distinctive pale blue orbital skin compared to the white of the eastern sub-species. The Sulphur-crested is also a much smaller species than any of the three Black Cockatoos of the SW of WA. The Kapok bush, with it’s stunning yellow flowers is also a relatively common scraqggly deciduous plant that occurs mostly in the open tropical and semi-tropical savanna woodlands of the NT and WA.

This painting now completes the set of the Western Australian large Cockatoos.

LOST IN PARADISE:

BANKSIA BURDETTII WITH TAWNY-CROWNED HONEYEATER & white-cheeked Honeyeater

I first saw Banksia burdettii at Kings Park, Perth (Botanical Gardens). It’s not hard to fall in love with such a glorious plant. It has been a while in coming- this painting and it initially was intended to be just the plant. But as the project progressed the birds were introduced to the composition. I rather enjoy using mixed bird species in the one composition despite seldom doing it. Finding a balding old seed cone was a bit of a challenge and I hope what I have included is a typical example. The (orange) colour of the flower heads is derived from the stamen and not the flower which is a typical off white with a very feint red central line. When the flower explodes open there are four small white flower heads supported by four individual fluffy stems. I would recomend checking them out on your own garden plants if you have not already done so. with other similar banksias.

ASCENSION OF THE CARNABYS- a framed watercolour painting

This framed watercolour painting was created for an exhibition to be held at Christian Fletchers gallery in Dunsborough WA starting 8 September 2023. Over 20 artists were invited to create a painting in response a to a photograqph taken by Christian. Both the photograph and the painting will be on display together as a pair. All paintings and photographs will be available for individual purchase at the gallery.

As usual, the painting is on 300gsm Arches Hot Pressed paper and the image measures 52cm x 70cm and protected by UV protection glass.

BUSH ROAD WITH KARRI TREES, North of pemberton

There is no limit to the number of bush roads with Karri trees and I love it- North of Pemberton. Pencil linework is present across the image.

TOWER ROAD, EAST NANNUP

A recent stay in Nannup resulted in us wandering some of the back roads of the district in order to find some suitable landscape opportunities. There are several quiet winding back roads lined with large Karri trees that easily capture my attention. I enjoy the mix of rural farmland together with big trees and dense bushland. Robins and Western Rosellas also seem to like this as a habitat.

KARRI TREES ALONG A BUSH TRACK WEST OF Pemberton 2023

It’s been quite a while since I painted a landscape and again one of my favourite locations west of Pemberton amongst the enormous Karri trees.

PARADISE LOST- PARADISE REFOUND

WESTERN GROUND PARROT

I have waited about 13 years to paint this picture of one of the most elusive birds in Australia. With the destruction of a very large portion of their natural habitat in the Great Southern Region of Western Australia, these birds are now even more endangered than ever. And recent studies have also shown that bushfires and control burns have long term impacts on the regrowth of a diversity of plants. This painting is of Paradise-Refound not because of naivety but out of hope and confidence in the efforts of researches and field workers dedicated to preserve these and many other species of our precious natural world. When wandering through parts of Fitzgerald River National Park you often come across patches of ground where there are just so many different species of plants- it’s a Western Australia thing.

FLOCK OF RED-NECKED AVOCETS IN FLIGHT

This watercolour features the very elegant Red-necked Avocets in a flock that was inspired from a trip to Kalbarri. in 2013.

The painting measures 75cm x 55cm and is painted on Arches 300gsm Hot Pressed paper. It would be true to say that the style used in this case is free and not a lot of detail in the feathering.

A VARIED DIET

VARIED LORIKEETS ON DARWIN WOOLYBUTT

GREAT CRESTED GREBES- ELEGANCE ON WATER

Great Crested Grebes are my all time favourite bird species ever since I first saw them around 1971 swimming on Lake Wendouree, Ballarat, Victoria. Since then I have seen them while travelling around different countries in Europe, especially northern Italy. This painting is based upon my frequent visits to Lake Monger, Perth, Western Australia.

This is a watercolour painting on Arches 300gsm Hot Press Paper.

The painting measures 38x56cm

Prints are available.

THREE RECENTLY FRAMED ORIGINALS

Carnaby’s Black Cockatoo on Banksia coccinea in the Stirling Ranges

Available through Boranup Gallery

HOODED PLOVERS ON REDGATE Beach

Available through Boranup Gallery

EASTERN OSPREY- GOURMET FLIGHT OVER CAPE MENTELLE, WA

CATSPAW- ANIGOZANTHOS HUMILIS

This is a framed watercolour on Arches 300gsm Hot Press paper

Image dimensions are approximate as the picture ihas a plain off-white rag colour – 32cm x 32cm

KANGAROO PAW HYBRID (RED)

Kangaroo Paws come in all sorts of colour matches and this red, burgundy and orange flowering version is an exceptionaly brilliant example. I have commenced a series of paintings of Kangaroo Paws because of their colourful splendour and magnificent statement when flowering profusely- which fortunately is a common occurence in our home gardens and parkland. Each painting will be hopefully a similar in size in order to make a beautiful display of a set of plants on a wall.

EUCALYPTUS RHODANTHA- rose Mallee

Truth is I have wanted to paint this species of beautiful eucalyptus for about five years and only just got around to completing the task. It’s the pendulous flower heads that fascinate me along with the sort of book leaf foliage along the branches.

This original painting measures about 56cm x 41cm and has been painted onArches 300gsm Satine or Hot Pressed paper which has a beautiful smoothish surface for painting details.

Available from the Artist.

SCARLET-CHESTED PARROTS on RED-BUDDED mallee

These small Parrots impress me greatly for their colour, quietness and ability to survive in a harsh environment. I have chosen the match-up between this mallee and these birds because they both occur in the Great Sandy Desert of Western Australia – harsh country. Scarlet- chested parrots are about 20cm long: they are a relatively small parrot- just like Budgerigars.

AVAILABLE FROM ASPECTS OF KINGS PARK, PERTH

MAJOR MITCHELLS ON THE MURCHISON

Whenever I consider an idea for a new a painting and a new subject in particular, I do a thorough amount of research to obtain a reliable posture for the birds. And then I draw each bird separately as well as the background combined with the perch or branches. Then I bring them together into one drawing- this takes about 3-5 days of drawing, photography and printing ready for the image to be traced through onto the watercolour paper. And then I stretch the sheet by saturating it with water in the shower and then taping the edges down onto a flat clean sheet of ply. A week of drawing work and weighing up different things has occurred before any paint is applied. It takes 24 hours for the sheet to dry out ready for painting.

Being birds of the inland and remote areas of Australia, I chose a backdrop featuring an inland waterway- in this case the Murchison River of Western Australia. As I advance my way through I check details on things like the eye colour by referring to very reliable bird guides including “The Australian Bird Guide” by the CSIRO team.

I had seen a few other paintings with poorly painted yellow markings in the crest and I wanted to ensure that did not happen. But, when I checked the CSIRO Guide I found that the Western Australian sub-species (mollis) has very little yellow in the crest. So much for the bright yellow flags that I originally intended on my bird. I have included some yellow which appears to be consistent with what I read.

The birds are perched on the branches of a Eucalyptus camalulensis ssp arida– Inland River Red Gum

WESTERN SPINEBILL ON Eucalyptus caesia

Western Spinebills are one of the truly impressive small birds in the Karri/Marri bushland of Western Australia. A fond favourite, these small birds measuring abetween 135-155mm in length feed quickly after landing on a grevillea, correa, hakea or any other nectar producing flowering plant.

AVAILABLE THROUGH ASPECTS OF KINGS PARK, PERTH

SCARLET ROBINS: “POSTED”

There was a day we travelled along bush tracks west of Dryandra Forest in Western Australia, and saw over thirty Scarlet Robins mostly perched on top of farm land fence posts. These are another species of birds that often dwell on the edge of bushland adjacent to open farmland paddocks. At home, in Margaret River, I had rarely seen a Scarlet Robin in our bush garden. And one day I decided to clear a track about six metres long and within an hour a pair of scarlet Robins came along to check out if there were any grubs or beetles in the disturbed area. I was left wondering- Were they always in the upper foliage of our tall trees and then saw me at work and worth a closer inspection?

SPINY-CHEEKED HONEYEATER ON PEAR FRUITED MALLEE

This framed painting features one of Western Australia’s most stunning flowering mallees, and a bird that frequents the dry inland mallee habitat across practically all of inland Australia.: mostly a dry country bird. It is when I encounter these Honeyeaters that I am alerted to the fact that I am back in the outback. The Spiny cheeks were common birds in the bush and urban areas of Alice Springs when we lived there. As for the Pear-fruited Mallee well this is just a stunning plant featuring flower heads that measure around 10 cm across and produce large clusters of fruit.

The painting is framed with non-reflective glass which has a UV rating of 70% with acid free conservation matt board.

CHUDITCH- WESTERN QUOLL LEAVING THE FOREST

The Western Quoll or Chuditch (Dasyurus geoffroii) is a rarely observed marsupial in the South-west of Western Australia where they mostly inhabit Jarrah/Marri bushland.

I first saw and photographed an Eastern Quoll in The Stones wildlife reserve near Portland, Victoria back in the 1970’s. In those days they were called Tiger Cats and people hated them because they believed that they killed their chooks. I just think the Quolls are beautiful animals well worthy of protection and preservation regardless of a bit of mischief here and there. The Western Quoll, is commonly known in Western Australia by the local (Noongar) Aboriginal name of Chuditch. There are no spots on the tail of the Western Quoll which is the largest carnivorous marsupial in WA. There are four species of Dasyurus in Australia and all are endangered mainly through loss of habitat.

SOLD THROUGH BORANUP GALLERY 30 JANUARY 2023

BARNIE & Boo

EASTERN BARN OWL & SOUTHERN BOOBOOK

“Barnie & Boo” is an adaption of an image I once saw for a fleeting moment some time ago. This often happens as an artist you see something and then get-too and creat your version of a glimpse- this is to build your own idea from another source as compared to a plain copy. Our Owls are precious birds: these night-time hunters are susceptible to catching baited rodents which can lead to the death of the Owl as well as the “rat”. “Barnie & Boo” is the last painting for 2021, which for us has been outstanding to say the least.

HOODED PARROTS

This painting features a landscape from Bukbukluk Lookout about 80km East of Pine Creek.

The painting is currently unframed and the price shown is for an unframed work.

This is a watercolour on Arches 300gsm Hot Pressed paper and is unframed. The dimensions of the original are 31cm x 36cm

LESSER SOOTY OWL- IN THE DEPTH OF THE FOREST- A DRAWING

This work is a drawing using Pitt Oil based pencils on Fabriano 280gsm textured watercolour paper. The grain in the paper provides a rough surface in line with the aim of – not to get lost in detail. If you are familiar with my painting of the Regent Bowerbirds you may notice similarity in the included subjects like twirling vines and ferny like leaves. The Lesser Sooty Owl is found in a relatively small region of Queensland and is fairly common.

Pitt Oil is not commonly known but the characteristics are quite remarkable as the depth of blackness works a treat while not reflecting light like a standard graphite pencil will normally generate.

KAKADU CONTRAST- SHINING FLYCATCHERS

Walking around the Melaleuca shrubland on the edge of Cooinda Waters at Kakadu National Park I spotted and photographed the female Shining Flycatcher. I was immediately impressed by the distinctive colour of the feathers on the wings and tail: very unique colouring for Australian birds. But the Top End of the Northern Territory appears to have a fairly strong number of Flycatchers as we observed a few species in our recent short trip.

One of the things I normally do when painting birds, particularly birds from more remote areas, or of lesser known birds, is search the Internet to see what paintings may exist or have been painted long ago. In this case, I would be confident in saying that this is a very rare piece of bird artwork . I have not found any contemporary paintings and only two historical works.

This is a watercolour on Arches 300gsm Hot Pressed paper and is unframed. The dimensions of the original are 31cm x 36cm

PORTRAIT OF A WEDGE-TAILED EAGLE

This is the first Bird of Prey that I have painted for some years. The details in the face were a surprise as I progressed through the original drawing. While they are not so colourful, they have such a powerful persons that can be seen in the eyes and the brow.

Available through Boranup Gallery

WINTER’S EVENING LOOKOUT

There is a cult status in our region for the Australian Masked Owl. They are a mysterious bird in so many ways and is seldom observed let alone correctly identified. Perhaps this is due to the simlarities with Barn Owls despite one being whitish and the other (the Masked Owl) being darker. And of course they would normally be observed at night which makes identification all that much more difficult. The colour pattern on the wings and back are difficult to decipher because of the minute random markings that bare little resemblance to a pattern. There is some baring across feathers and white triagle(ish) shaped markings on some feather ends – but not on all of them. While these Owls are found around Australia the colours vary considerably and in Tasmania the birds are very brown in colour.

I placed the bird on a stumpy hollow ended branch of an old Karri tree which I came across south of Boranup. The wet tree trunk accentuates the colours of the bark and the clouds are also to represent a winters storm which is a common feature in that part of the world. A tough place for an Owl to make a go of it really.

This is a watercolour painting on Arches 300gsm Hot Pressed paper. Dimensions are 41cm x 54cm and is currently unframed.

SPLENDID FAIRY-WRENS WITH YELLOW BUTTERCUPS

Splendid Fairy Wrens seem to enjoy hanging out together and it may well be (based on sound research) that more often than not the female has more than one boyfriend helping in the breeding process. Enough gossip. The Splendids spend a lot of time on or near the ground which is why I incorporated the small Hibbertia hypericoides (Yellow Buttercups).

This is a watercolour painting on Arches 300gsm Hot Pressed paper.

Dimensions of the picture are 39cm x 29cm

See this painting of the Splendid Wrens at Aspects of Kings Park, Perth

WOODSWALLOWS AT REST-MASKED AND WHITE-BROWED WOODSWALLOWS

This is a unique watercolour painting of two species of Woodswallows that are found within Western Australia. The Masked Woodswallows occur across a vast area of Australia except for a few corners of the continent. Interestingly, the White-browed Woodswallows (which occur in the northern inland areas of WA and most of the rest of the country) are often found together. They fly, feed and perch together as if they were the same species.

^{The picture measures about 31cm wide x 40cm high and is now framed and available from the artist. Contact via email: spikercs@gmail.com}

Price framed $2700

GOLDEN WHISTLERS ON THE TRYMALIUM

This is a beautiful framed original watercolour painting on display at and available from Aspects of Kings Park, Perth Western Australia. You can contact Aspects Gallery by phone on 9480 3900 or visit seven days a week at 68 Fraser Avenue, Kings Park Western Australia 6005 ·

Sold through Aspects of Kings Park

The picture measures about 29cm wide x 35cm high and is now framed.

AFTERNOON REFLECTIONS

Our property consists of natural vegetation including Marri and Jarrah trees with a planted garden designed to attract birds. There are locations in the garden where Bronzewings tend to gather including a resting area underneath Allocasuarinas and tall shrubs. And it is this location that I have tried to portray in this painting of the male and female Common Bronzewings (Phaps chalcoptera). These birds are common around the urban area of Margaret River and surrounding bushland.

Completion of this painting was over three consecutive weeks: beginning with idea sketches, then detail drawings, followed by developing composition sketches and final watercolour painting. Painted on Arches 300gsm Hot Press paper.

Picture dimensions are 71cm wide x 51cm high

Framed original $8500

Please contact the Artist by email if interested: spikercs@gmail.com

Flame in the Snow: PAIR OF FLAME ROBINS ON A SNOW GUM

We visited the Mount Buffalo and Falls Creek areas last September and were delighted to see so many Flame Robins. They seemed to find food in the snow which I guess could have been insects of some kind. One of the particular aims of the visit was to see the Snow Gums (Eucalyptus pauciflora) which are truly one of the worlds most amazing trees. The branches have colourful longitudinal stripes like broad pin-stripes of pale yellows and grey/blue bark and the occasional green or red bark. The background view is from the Mt Buffalo area.

This is a watercolour painting on 300gsm Arches Hot Pressed (smooth) Paper. The original image measures approx. 35cm x 45cm high.

Available from the Artist

Framed price $3300

Regent Bowerbirds on a log by the track to Mt Warning

On a recent hike up Mount Warning Northern NSW (August 2018), I came across this most fascinating branch growing immediately next to the track. I was about three quarters of the way up the climb. It appeared to me to be an old branch because of the amount of miscellaneous vegetation growing all over it. As soon as I saw it I knew that it was for: I wanted to paint the Regent Bowerbirds perched on it (with only a little licence) And here we have it.

An original watercolour painting on Arches 300 gsm Hot Pressed Paper

The original is now available as a framed work using 70%UV protection non-reflective glass.

An original watercolour painting on Arches 300 gsm Hot Pressed Paper.

Picture area is approximately 50cm x 71cm.

Available from the Artist

Framed Price: $7500

RED-WATTLEBIRD ON BANKSIA MENZEISII

A fine art watercolour painting on Arches 300gsm hot-pressed paper

The picture is approximately 440mm high x 620mm wide  and is beautifully framed to archival standards with non-reflective conservation UV glass.

Framed Price: $5500

THE PRINCESS IS PREENING: Princess Parrots on a Marble Gum

This is a watercolour painting on 300gsm Arches Hot Pressed (smooth) Paper. The original image measures 70cm x 52cm wide.

Framed price $5500

RED FLOWERING GUM

Corymbia ficifolia

Watercolour of Corymbia ficifolia

I remember seeing a mature tree in the school yard in Central Victoria many years ago and was so blown away by the shear brilliance of the flourish of brilliant red colour all over its canopy. Here in the west I am surprised that Corymbia ficifolia is not planted more as a specimen tree or as street trees. The City of Busselton is certainly getting onto in their street scaping works and they should start to look brilliant by about 2025-ish.(They do look good now).

This is a watercolour painted on Arches 300gsm Hot Pressed Paper. Dimensions of the picture are 45cm x 62cm (unframed and therefore dimensions may change a little).

SOLD THROUGH ASPECTS OF KINGS PARK, Perth WA