This colourful vase was the third of Stephen's "in-out" offerings for Moorcroft Enamels. The outside of the vase features two male and one female Bullfinch, while the inside had a circle of newly hatched young on the nest.

Nationally,this species has suffered a serious decline in recent years and Bullfinches are now a cause of conservation concern. At one time they were considered to be a pest species - in the sixteenth century, there was a bounty of a penny per bird and more recently in parts of Britain with orchards it was permitted to cull them under licence.This is no longer allowed; in any event the damage is rarely serious as recent research shows that particular varieties only are affected and more than half the buds would have to be taken to reduce the crop of fruit.

Bullfinches are rather shy birds and avoid contact with people. They were once elusive in gardens. Hedgerow loss means that they have grown more accustomed in recent years to the availability of seeds at feeding stations in gardens, being especially fond of sunflower seed. They are more likely to be seen in gardens in the spring when their natural diet of Ash and Elm seeds have been exhausted over the winter.

Stephen returned to a Bullfinch theme in 2006 when Elliot Hall Enamels was launched, this time painting an open bowl.