Oxley artist Donna Prentice has been selected as a finalist in the prestigious 2025 Holmes Prize for Excellence in Realistic Australian Bird Art.

Only 35 entries were chosen by a panel of judges, made up of artists and avian experts, out of hundreds who enter the national art competition each year, described as "the equivalent to the Archibald for Australian bird artists".

The reference image for Donna's watercolour called Mirror Mirror was a photo of a turquoise parrot, considered a vulnerable species locally, taken by local photographer Chris Tzaros from Birds, Bush and Beyond - so she says it is really a collaboration between artists and wildlife.

What is even more remarkable is that Donna has only been painting for a few years, but has now found herself in the company of long-time practicing artists.

"I'm still pinching myself a little bit," she said.

"It is such an honour to be included among such talented artists from across the country, and I'm proud to be representing our local creative community on a national stage."

Having lived in Oxley for about a decade, Donna makes a habit of getting outside and drawing from nature every day, because she sees things which then translate into her art subconsciously.

She said she's fortunate to live in a place where there are about 92 species of birds which appear throughout the year.

"There is always something to observe and you tend to look differently when you have a pencil in your hand," she said.

"You can look and name something, but when you observe enough to try and draw it, you start to notice details you otherwise wouldn't pay attention to."

Donna said she's been looking at birds and embracing wildlife her whole life, encouraged by her father - a fisheries and wildlife officer - who would identify different species to his children while on drives and hikes; the family also looking after orphaned animals in their home.

Donna said portraying them in a realistic style was a way she could share her love of wildlife with others, and add a bit of peace and joy to the world.

"I like to capture them as closely as possible, but it's never as good as a the real thing," she said.

"Being able to look at something and recall the moment you were there with the animal - that connection with nature - comes through more easily in realism.

"I think it's more accessible to everybody in some respects, because unless you already have an appreciation of other art styles, it can be harder to connect with the piece."

Donna draws with graphite every day, but her favourite medium is to paint with watercolour because of its lively nature.

"I love the fact that it's unpredictable - you can only tame it to a certain point - but then it always does its own thing, a bit like nature," she said.

"I like that you can be really detailed and specific, but then you can also just be completely spontaneous with it."

Donna's artistic career began after she had been painting for a few months and then went on a trip to Hall's Gap where she met internationally renowned pastel artist Steve Morvell, who saw her early work and almost immediately offered to mentor her for the rest of her career.

The mother of three undertook an intensive week of tutoring with Morvell and finished feeling like she couldn't return to "real life", so with the encouragement and support of a friend, and her husband, embarked on her dream career.

"I'm never going to stop learning - this is really still only the start of the journey," she said.

Mirror Mirror took Donna about a week to paint, but other larger works can take up to a month.

She says she will continue to focus on wildlife and native bird species, particularly those from North East Victoria, because there is so much variety.

Donna and her husband plan to attend the exhibition where a major prize winner of $15,000 will be announced on Thursday, 23 October, along with four awards of excellence and a people's choice award.

She is also looking forward to catching up with fellow artists and friends she has made online over the last few years, who have also made the finalists list.

"These are really my heroes and I'm just so excited to be among them," Donna said.

"I can't wait to go and see the art in person - this is the best in the country, and I can't wait to see it."

The 2025 Holmes Prize for Excellence in Realistic Australian Bird Art exhibition from Friday, 24 October to Friday, 21 November at Sunshine Coast Art and Framing Gallery in Minyama, Queensland.

Donna's artwork can be seen online at www.dprentice.art or at the Garage Gallery in Dunkeld.