The Drawn to Art student was inspired to create a painting of a koala after looking at animals in a National Geographic book.

Rhys donated the painting to Port Macquarie Koala Hospital.

He said the koala was unlike other animals and he thought it would be cool to create a painting of a koala.

Rhys took up painting and drawing when he moved to Port Macquarie about two years ago.

"I really love the creativity in it," Rhys said about art.

"It's your own interpretation of how you see things and how you want them to look."

Rhys donated the painting because he likes the koala hospital's dedication to the care and conservation of wild koalas.

Port Macquarie Koala Hospital clinical director Cheyne Flanagan was impressed with Rhys' painting.

"He has captured the head of the koala really well - even in abstract form," she said.

"The colours are lovely too. He has a great future artistically."

The painting will be hung at the koala hospital.

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