Everytime I look at the painting it is as if Zuhri has been momentarily brought back to life.
About
My paintings are known for bringing their subjects to life. So many have said that when you look into the eyes of one of my paintings you look into the soul of the animal and they are alive, that I capture the essence of each animal.
I was born into a family of talented painters and I cannot remember a time when I did not draw or paint. I also can't remember a time when I was not fascinated by animals, and our family pets included fish, mice and cats. Within months of my marriage, my husband and I bought our first Dalmatian and my art took a definite turn towards animals from which it just occasionally wavers.
I work as a full-time artist and began to paint professionally over 30 years ago and I have, during that time, gained a reputation for paintings of quality which are not only realistic but capture the personality of each individual animal. I have painted vast numbers of beloved pets for people and some of the very highest winning show dogs in the world. My paintings are held in The Royal Collection and other collections world-wide and have been chosen as the top prizes in competitions held by luxury home magazine and pet food companies.
In 2016 I was approached by the Kennel Club Arts Foundation to paint the 2016 Crufts Best in Show winner, the Westie, Devon - Champion Burneze Geordie Girl. The painting was presented to the Kennel Club Arts Foundation Chairman, Tom Mather at Crufts in March 2017. Also present was Devon herself, together with Marie Burns her owner, who has received a limited edition print of the painting.
This was followed in 2017 by another commission from the Kennel Club to paint that year's Crufts Best in Show, the American Cocker Spaniel, Miami - Show Champion Afterglow Miami Ink.This photo shows me together with Crufts Chairman, Tom Mather at the Kennel Club in London.
Once again in 2018 I was appraoched by the Kennel Club to paint that year's Crufts Best in Show, the Whippet - Tease - Champion Collooney Tartan Tease.This photo shows me together with Crufts Chairman and Chairman of the Kennel Club Arts Foundation, Tom Mather, Yvette and David Short and Tease.
I was thrilled to be asked yet again to paint the 2019 winner of Crufts, the Papillon - Dylan the Villain - Multi Champion Planet Waves Forver Young Daydream Believers. What a delightful, sparkling little dog this is!
I was delighted to be once more commissioned by the Kennel Club to paint the 2020 winner of Crufts, the Standard Wire Haired Dachshund - Maisie - Champion Silvae Trademark and what a lovely girl she is. Due to the pandemic the presentation of this painting was delayed a year to 2022.
Crufts Presentation 2019
Crufts Best In Show 2016
The official Kennel Club commissioned portrait of the West Highland White Terrier, Ch Burneze Geordie Girl, (Devon) who is owned by Marie Burns
Crufts Best In Show 2017
The official Kennel Club commissioned portrait of the American Cocker Spaniel, Sh Champion Afterglow Miami Ink, (Miami) who is owned by Jason Lynn and Rui Jorge da Silva
Crufts Best In Show 2018
The official Kennel Club commissioned portrait of the Whippet, Ch Collooney Tartan Tease, (Tease) who is owned by Yvette and David Short
Crufts Best In Show 2019
The official Kennel Club commissioned portrait of the Papillon, Multi Ch. Planet Waves Forver Young Daydream Believers, (Dylan) who is owned by Kathleen Roosens
Crufts Best In Show 2020
The official Kennel Club commissioned portrait of the Wire Haired Dachshund, Ch Silvae Trademark, (Maisie) who is owned by Duncan and Kim McCalmont
Crufts Presentation 2022
Crufts Best In Show 2022
The official Kennel Club commissioned portrait of the Flat Coated Retriever, Multi Champion Almanza Backseat Driver, (Baxer) who is owned by Patrick Oware
It was a huge pleasure to be asked by the kennel club to paint Crufts best in show for 2022, the 6th year running that I've lucky enough to paint these beautiful dogs. This handsome chap has the following impressive titles - GB.SH.CH, C.I.E, NORDUCH, DUCH, NUCH, SE(u)CH, ESCH, FIV-18-19, DV-19-21, NORDV-19-21, NV-19-21-22, WW-20 - what an amazing tally. Baxer was born in Sweden and lives in Norway and so, bearing this in mind, I decided to paint him with a view of the Sulitjelma mountain range in the background as they are on the border between Norway and Sweden. I also thought it would be nice to add a further nod to his nationality by including the little white flowers of pyramidal saxifrage, the national flower of Norway, and blue harebells, the national flower of Sweden.