© Jimmy Maxwell

Jimmy writes "I’ve always been fascinated by birds and plant forms. My two contributions to this Showcase illustrate this. The first, a watercolour, is a memory of a sunny day down at Coldingham. I found a tiny wren foraging along a grove of giant hogweed beside a small stream. As it picked insects among these huge emergent leaves, it paused now and then to deliver its loud, trilling song – head up, pouring out its sibilant message to the morning.

The photograph was taken in Dalzell Woods in February. This time a crisp bright day with various birds among Hazel shrubs where a nut-feeder had been positioned. I love the soft colour and shapes of the Hazel catkins and this Blue Tit in full breeding plumage seemed to give just the right contrast."