Three Friends - Horse Portrait

This portrait of two bay horses and a beautiful grey was commissioned as a special gift. To ensure I captured each horse at its very best, I visited them to carry out a dedicated photoshoot, photographing each one individually before developing a series of compositional sketches for my client to consider.

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After discussing the various options, we chose a composition that brought the three horses together in a natural and balanced arrangement, allowing each of their individual personalities to shine while creating a harmonious overall portrait.

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Painted in traditional artist-quality pastels, I particularly enjoyed capturing their bright, intelligent expressions and attentive nature. They were a pleasure to photograph—calm, curious and wonderfully cooperative throughout the photoshoot—which made the experience every bit as enjoyable as creating the finished painting.

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Commissioning a portrait often involves bringing together several reference photographs to create a composition that could never be achieved in a single image. This approach allows me to produce a painting that is both artistically balanced and deeply personal, creating a lasting tribute to much-loved horses.