PROVENANCE Private Collection, Wanaka Acquired from Gallery Thirty Three, Wanaka

The Arctic skua is a medium-sized, graceful bird with long, pointed wings and a deep, rounded belly resembling a falcon in flight. Arctic skuas live most of their lives at sea, coming ashore only to breed in the Arctic summer. If sighted it will likely be solitary, soaring through the air. Although skuas are occasionally found around mainland coasts, they are more often seen on the Chatham and subantarctic islands.

Aerodynamic in form, the species is monochromatic in colour with the depth of darkness varying in occurrence. Strong and with a relentless attitude: skaus pursue other birds, often terns, to take their catch of fish whilst in flight. Driven and determined, the Arctic Skua captured Don Binney's fascination.

The land depicted here is the Whangaparaoa Peninsula, north of Auckland. Binney saw this particular Arctic Skua fly over the Peninsula whilst aboard a vessel, having come through the Whangaparaoa channel from the direction of Tiritiri Matangi. Embodying Binney's distinctive style, this composition brilliantly captures the bird in flight.

The flax fibre used as the surface for this painting is a natural New Zealand product that has the appearance of paper. However, the quality of flax fibre is comparative to canvas in its durability and in the way it takes paint. This adds a point of difference to the composition as it is a medium not often used by Binney and particularly not to this degree of scale.