This is a stately magpie printed on a page of Handel's Messiah Novello and company limited edition. The hand written inscription reads 1936 so the paper is at least 75years old. I found the book falling to pieces on the shelf in my local St. Catherine's Hospice shop and had to have it, the paper has a lovely creamy texture and is perfect to print on.

It features an image of a Magpie hand drawn in ink by me and then translated onto a screen for printing.

Magpies seem to be jacks of all trades - scavengers, predators and pest-destroyers, their challenging, almost arrogant attitude has won them few friends. With its noisy chattering, black-and-white plumage and long tail, there is nothing else quite like the magpie in the UK.

Measures 5.75 inches wide by 8.5 inches tall.