In the year 2000 Stephen very much had an exotic bird theme to his designs. After creating Sunbirds for the 2000 catalogue he went on to design two special non-catalogue pieces for what became known as his "Millennium Collection".

Although they were designed as freehand painted pieces, Moorcroft Enamels decided that they wanted to keep the cost down and the decision was made to use litho printed outlines and the hand-colourists. In the event, Stephen was asked to do the hand-colouring, much against his better judgement. Unusually, and some would perhaps say mis-leadingly, he was also asked to sign the pieces S. SMITH. This may have caused some to think they were freehand painted.

Zebra Finches was Stephen's only design ever on the squat 198 shape, while Love Birds allowed him free reign to create a colourful piece. The pieces were not catalogue editions but were advertised in the Moorcroft Collectors Club magazine as being painted by Stephen and available from retailers. Neither edition sold out and far fewer than 100 pieces were probably painted.

I would not normally include these pieces here within the catalogue of freehand painted work except to set the record straight for collectors.