In 2003 I fell pregnant and as such had to leave my job painting murals’ on hotel ceilings or walls. Instead, I spent many an hour putting finishing touches to my child’s nursery, and was looking for some artwork to put on the walls. Whilst walking in the fields near my home, I noticed a herd of cows, just staring at me. At first glance, they seemed so gormless but on closer inspection they had a warmth and innocence in their eyes. It was then that I decided to paint cows…I created one for my son’s nursery to keep him company and watch over him as he slept.

Years later, I still love to paint my cows, each with their own individual personality and charming expressions. The Hay Days! collection continues to encapsulate the unique and simple differences in each of my cows. Hay is such a playful medium in itself; so it was perfect for this body of work, where I wanted to convey the humour and joviality of my characters. From a composition point of view, it also adds great texture and depth to the pieces.

I hope you enjoy this collection as much as I enjoyed creating it!