Local painter Frances McMahon has won the Holmes Prize for Excellence in Realistic Australian Bird Art 2022 with her painting Showing Off which captures two sulphur-crested cockatoos in a gum tree.

The piece took more than 160 hours to complete. McMahon took reference photos before beginning the painting process. She says after struggling to capture a decent shot of the birds, two happened to land on the gum tree by her balcony one afternoon, and she quickly took around 300 photos.

“I had taken 1,000 photos; none were suitable because I wanted the light filtering through the white feathers. They need light and life.”

As a watercolour artist, McMahon doesn’t paint large amounts of white onto the page; rather, she leaves the space blank. She says it is the traditional way, as too much white paint makes the picture flat and opaque.

Self-taught, the artist has been painting flying beauties for more than 50 years. She believes it was fostered by her father, who used to take her out birdwatching at Lake George when she was young.

“They used to have pelicans and other water birds,” she said. “In the last few years, I don’t see birds there much anymore.”

This was the second time McMahon entered the competition. She heard about it on Facebook. Entries come from all over the country. Pieces must be two-dimensional and of a native species, preferably in its natural habitat. Then 35 finalists are selected to be judged by experts including Canberra’s Peter Marsack, co-illustrator of the Australian Bird Guide.

Along with the top spot, McMahon won $15,000 in prize money. She says most of it will be reabsorbed into the craft. It also allowed her to quit her part-time job as a receptionist at the ANU. She wants to focus on her work for the Morpeth Gallery in NSW and on taking commissions.

“I think it was the universe telling me I shouldn’t be doing any more desk work,” McMahon said, smiling.

However, it isn’t all work: some of the funds will go toward a bird-watching tour in the Northern Territory. She is keen to capture some shots of the birds there, which she will transform into more beautiful paintings.

“The rainbow bee-eaters, you don’t get them around here. The Gouldian finch, they are one I have my eye on.”

Frances McMahon’s work can be seen and bought on her website: francesmcmahon.com

Get all the latest Canberra news, sport, entertainment, lifestyle, competitions and more delivered straight to your inbox with the Canberra Daily Daily Newsletter. Sign up here.