Watching a Bittern, so quiet, so determined – striding through the reeds like it owned the place. There was something almost prehistoric about it… and yet, oddly elegant. This painting is inspired by that.

The stillness, the sound of soft rain, and the way the colours seemed to shimmer as it moved. I loved using watery brushstrokes to echo the rain. I flicked the brush and let the paint splash just a little over the paper. It’s funny how birds like this leave an impression.

He’s painted on handmade watercolour paper. If you’d love a Bittern striding across your wall, he is up on Artfinder.