For the past few weeks, Mrs Honan has been busy painting a masterpiece to enter in this weekend’s Eurobodalla District Show.

“I have entered the show for many years,” she said. 

“Over the years I have won many awards.”

Mrs Honan started painting with watercolours as a child but moved to oil paintings when she was 13. 

“I always wanted to be a photographer or artist,” she said. 

“I was training to be a commercial artist but didn’t stick to it.

“I have been painting all my life and love painting animals.”

Mrs Honan said the judges looked for composition, technical ability, rule of thirds and subject matter.

“You don’t want a big black blob at one side, you have to have balance,” she said.

“I don’t really have any tricks; I have been doing it for so long. 

“You really never stop learning different techniques.”

Mrs Honan takes photos of everything, even the TV, to paint. 

She said she needed another 50 years to paint all the photos she had taken.

Mrs Honan said she did not enter the show to win; it was because she loved painting.

“People love walking through and looking at the art,” she said. 

“It is nice to see some interesting art.”