The days of wallpapering your bedroom with pony posters (and your ceiling with boy band members — or was that just me?) have sadly gone, and in the interest of being grown-up, we’ve picked out the equestrian art that we’re lusting after to adorn our homes.
1. Kate Ward
Bath-based Kate specialises in painting racehorses and polo ponies — inspired by watching her professional polo-playing son Tim Ward in action across the globe.
Visit: www.facebook.com/KateWardPaintings
2. Elizabeth Armstrong
After graduating from Goldsmiths Art College with a degree in painting, textiles and embroidery, Elizabeth lived in Spain for 10 years. During this time she worked as a portrait artist on the Costa Brava, where she acquired a fine reputation for her pastel and pencil sketches. Her equestrian art has been exhibited at Royal Ascot, Guards Polo Club, the Dubai World Cup as well at Newbury, Royal Windsor, Warwick, Stratford and Uttoxeter racecourses.
Visit: www.elizabetharmstrong.co.uk
3. Enrique Castro
Born in Buenos Aires, Argentina in 1938, Enrique bred polo ponies for 15 years as well as managing a racing stud. He then spent eight years with the great Argentinean painter Miguel Caride, which marked a turning point in his career. Enrique later moved to London and worked for the Tryon Gallery for 20 years.
Email: enriquecastro101s@fibertel.com.ar
4. William Newton
Sculptor William is a former National Hunt jockey, riding his last race at Chepstow in 1987. His sculpting career took off that year when jockey Steve Knight — who had won the Grand National on Maori Venture — introduced his work to the horse’s owner Jim Joel. Jim liked what he saw and asked William to make a bronze study of his National winner. Two months later, Steve Cauthen won the Derby on Reference Point and commissioned a bronze of himself and his Derby winner cantering to the start, securing William’s status in his new profession.
Visit: www.williamnewtonsculptor.com
5. Michelle McCullagh
Michelle works from her studio in Dorset, exploring the movement of animals in her paintings. “You cannot ask an animal to stand still like you can a human being,” says Michelle. “They are continually moving, swishing a tail, twitching an ear or scratching a leg. Drawings have to be quick, spontaneous and confident. The energy produced in a quick life study can be very exciting. I strive to repeat this energy and movement in my oil paintings by using dramatic, contrasting colours and very few lines.”
Visit: www.mccullagh.co.uk
6. Katie Scorgie
Born in 1969, Katie has been around horses from a young age, including a career as a point-to-point jockey. One of Katie’s most notable commissions was being one of three artists in residence to the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment between 2011-2012, resulting in an exhibition at Hyde Park Barracks in April 2012.
Visit: www.katiescorgie.co.uk
7. Lydia Kiernan
Lydia’s love of horses stems from a childhood passion when she was drawn to her local stables. She went to Falmouth School of Art where she was able to combine her love of art and horses. Her work takes an orginal approach to drawing horses, making “abstract anatomical references that acknowledge the horse as a skeletal creature”.
Visit: www.lydiakiernan.co.uk
