Kaikoura, New Zealand (21)

Another New Zealand scene, this time of Kaikoura on the east coast of the south island. Kaikoura teems with wildlife and is a popular place to see whales, Dusky dolphins, sea birds and seals. Fur seals congregate at the tip of the peninsula and, finding myself with a few hours to spare between buses, l walked out to this spot. I got so engrossed in watching the seals that I forgot the time and had to hitch back to town to catch the bus.

The rugged coastline makes for spectacular scenery and I couldn’t resist this picture. The cloud was creeping up the Kaikoura mountain range so only the tops were visible, and the sky above the mountains was stormy. Despite the dull day, the colours of the sea and grass were really rich and vibrant.

This painting will be exhibited at Fidels, Essex Street, Fremantle from 26th January to 25th February 2010.