Neil Cawthorne

Sold by Big Sky Fine Art; this original oil painting by Neil Cawthorne dated 1970.<br> The painting is presented and supplied in a sympathetic contemporary frame. <br> <br> Neil Cawthorne was born in Leicestershire and is a highly esteemed equestrian artist, specialising in hunting, racing and polo scenes. He helped to found the Society of Equestrian Artists in 1979. He has exhibited with the American Academy of Equine Art and at the Society of Equestrian Artists’ annual exhibition at Christies where he has won numerous awards.<br> His works are much sought after and he is fully employed with commission work. His paintings appear in the private collections of HRH the Prince of Wales, the Duke of Beaufort, Lord Harrington and Lord Vesty. Several of his paintings have been produced as limited edition prints and a number have been used by charities as Christmas cards.<br> When not painting he indulges his love of horses by hunting and racing. He has held an Amateur licence and has owned a number of racehorses.<br> <br> This original oil on canvas, painted in 1972 is a bright scene with a clean crisp palette. It depicts a meeting of the Fernie Hunt, which is based near Market Harborough in rural Leicestershire, England. In 1972 fox hunting with hounds was still a legal and popular sport. In the foreground we see a brown horse, with a pack of hounds, leading the way. Behind are two other horses, with more in the background. All the riders, or huntsmen, wear the traditional dress of the hunt, most in red riding jackets, some of the more distant ones in black jackets. All wear jodhpurs and black boots. The grass is green; the sky is pale blue and the scene is one of brisk activity in the open rolling countryside.