News and snaps from my studio. Sometimes I write about new pieces that I’m working on that are not released yet. If I think of a tip or piece of advice that will help you look after your painting I’ll often share it here. If there’s something specific you want to find, there is a search box down below.
Multi-coloured Cows
This cute pair have been a joy to paint and are due to become available on my website once I have named them. I love the rich russet tones, offset by cool purple touches. Their expressions were fun to paint too!
Just noticed the sheep photo-bombing the cows :D this is inevitable here in the studio !
Work in progress on the easel 76 x 102 cm
A new big colourful Canvas is nearing completion, I have some adjustments to make to his nose and horns, so this is the final editing and finishing stage. The colours are quite a bit more rich and dark than you can see here, particularly in the top right corner. The painting is so shiny and will be so for several days as it takes time to dry. This piece is 76 x 102 cm and will be for sale on my ‘originals’ page, ready to ship once dry
Today at the studio I hope to finish this colourful guy. One of the things that I do as part of my process, as well as creating the big shapes first, is that I work intuitively on the first layers. I don’t try and worry too much about the final result. This then gives me something to respond to in the following sessions. So I have added all the colours that I wanted to add and the wild and woolly hair. Today I will work back into the paintings and edit, tidying up some of the edges and leaving others, hopefully ending up with the final cow that I envision. Watch this space, I’ll post another photo of the final piece.
I enjoy painting on three panels, the finished effect is cool and contemporary and you get different looks depending on whether you leave a gap when you hang the paintings. I’m currently feeling very glad that I have rented this size of a studio, I remember during the pandemic, when I was painting at home and trying to create a big piece like this in the spare room - not easy!
Colourful Highland Cow Prints
I am sometimes asked for a large version of these Colourful Highland Cow Prints, which are available in smaller sizes through Wraptious. You can purchase the large (and small) square canvas prints and their framed print directly from their website here.
If you are looking for a larger canvas version, I have made it available below for your convenience. This was one of my first Highland Cows painted with brush and fingers :)
I spent the week painting the Highland Cow in these lovely bright aqua shades.
Now freshly completed and getting dry in my studio this week. She has a very level and intense stare and is a dark ginger brown, with sunny highlights in her sweeping forelock. Painted with brushes, fingers and a palette knife, there is a lot of texture and movement in the piece. She is 30 x 40” / 80 x 100 cm, and this painting is now sold. Check out my new originals or why not commission your own custom Highland Cow art piece?
Kirriemuir - original Highland Cow Painting
Kelso 80 x 100 cm
I have been working hard to get my new pieces ready to take to the Creative Melbourne gallery this week, as part of the Derbyshire Open Arts Trail 2022 If this lady is dry in time we will be taking her along! Layers of textured deep purple-blue and fizzy orange make this piece a real eye-opener!
Some of my new Highland Cow paintings will be released for sale on my originals page as they become available, and you can sign up for my art collectors newsletter for early updates.
*Update! If you want to see a photo of Kelso in her new home, see this post.
Kelso canvas prints are now available to purchase here
A new Highland Cow oil painting, bursting with colour!
The Story Behind the Colourful Highland Cow Paintings
I painted my first Highland Cow in 2018, from a photo reference of a beautiful brown and very hairy Highland Cow with a quizzical expression. I used the stance, and the lighting from the photo, however I used my own colour palette. The idea was to use some of the rich and beautiful glowing colours present in the gorgeous Harris Tweed fabric, which always reminds me of the beauty of the Scottish scenery. I painted that piece in two sessions, and it all fell into place very quickly. I enjoyed it so much that I began to paint a whole series of these lovely cows. The colours and the expressive brush and finger marks do seem to suit the character of the Highland Cattle, and I enjoy creating the moody and stormy surroundings.
The most famous of my colourful Highland Cow paintings is that first one, simply titled ‘Highland Cow’. I entered the Wraptious artist competition that year, having put together a collection of five paintings , all of the animals, for my entry. I won the competition and was signed up as a licensed artist , and my Highland Cow began to be featured on a lot of their home and giftware that year. He is still a bestseller now and a familiar face in boutiques and shops both in the UK and abroad.
My original Highland Cow painting
Buy a large canvas print of the Highland Cow here:
vibrant colours
Take a minute to get lost in this captivating painting of a cow basking in a sunny field. Painted in vibrant colours, explore nature's peace through this original artwork.
I am currently open for painting commissions and can work with you to create your own ideal Highland Cow painting with glazed colours tailor-made to your home. Lead time is approximately 4 weeks,
close-up details
close up of the painting
Argyle - new pictures showing off my multi-coloured cow and her gorgeous tropical colours! I can’t get over the way these colours shine from this beautiful cow! See more of my available original colourful cows here on my ‘Originals’ page.
Colourful details
I am going through my Google account this morning deleting duplicate photos and I found this from April 2020. This was a lovely commission to do and the painting now lives in Queensland, Australia.
I have always been crazy about seeing rainbow colours all together, ever since discovering the glass prisms at school age 7. Later in a succession of new schools, I’d spend way too much time staring through my clear plastic ruler to watch the rainbows appear. Dont we find strange things to take comfort from?
I have managed to include much of the rainbow in this new cow portrait and I love it.
All that remains is to find her a name.
This is a painting session condensed into two minutes. I am hoping to get better at making videos so this was my first attempt, with the use of a new camera. This piece is 80 x 100cm and will be available for sale on my website when finished.
These are part of my collection of paintings featuring cows adorned with beautiful flowers! These one-of-a-kind pieces of art are guaranteed to bring a playful and charming vibe to any space they are displayed in. Take a sneak peek at my latest works in progress!
Update: These colourful pieces of art are all now sold, please check my art for sale page for latest releases.
Three new big flowery cow paintings on their way! These are such quirky and whimsical paintings and are but enjoyable to paint and fun to display
I’m painting the third layer this week, where I will pay attention to the features and make any necessary alterations, and develop the background a little too😊
I am open for commission requests, find all the information you need here
These Colourful Highland Cow paintings are very vibrant, , and nearly finished, If you would like to enquire about these pieces please drop me a line,
Update* these are sold, however, you can check my newly available animal oil paintings here
Colourful Highland Cow painting on the easel
My painting and my poodle!
Colourful Highland Cow painting in progress
In the third photo you can see one of my little fluffy friends, when I work at home, she gives me a couple of hours and then she sits close, or in front of the easel until i stop painting and take them out :)
This piece is very unusual, a chestnut coloured Highland Cow surrounded by Blue Himalayan Poppies, creamy-white Morning Glories, and tiny wild flowers. I have called this painting ‘Dawyck’ for the blue poppies that grow in the botanical gardens there. I have a family connection to the Dawyck estate, as my great grandfather worked on the estate for the Balfour family and my Nana used to tell me stories of growing up there and playing in the gardens as a little girl.
This gentle cow has a slightly guilty look on her face, almost as if she has a secret. The canvas is 100cm x 80 cm and is gallery wrapped with painted sides, ready to hang. This piece is sold, view my Originals page for new paintings as they come available.
Each Highland Cow portrait is a one-of-a-kind, unique oil painting. This little video shows the beginning stage of a new painting, which has been commissioned recently. Im going to film the whole process on this one and give the client the video along with the piece.
Corrie is a new big Highland Cow painting for sale. A heartwarming girl in radiant colours,
Update This piece is sold. Are you interested in a similar colourful piece of original art? Please get in touch to find out about comissioning a bespoke cow painting of your own.
Corrie the Highland Cow
One of the joys of commissioning a custom painting, is the ability to choose the subject and the colour palette and then let me do the rest!
Highland Cow Painting in Situ
Highland Cow Painting ‘Corrie’ 80 x 100 cm SOLD
Big Colourful Cow Painting
This piece is my biggest Highland Cow yet, I think, at 90 x 120 cm. I’ll try and get a good photo of the painting on the wall once I have made the final touches. It’s always very difficult to get a decent photo while the paint is still wet.
Update: This big colourful cow painting is now sold. Please see my newly released paintings here.
If you are interested in a brightly coloured cow print on canvas, please see my large selection here
