Backlit Highland Bull
Highland Bull Painting
A new Highland Bull painting, a golden sweetheart against a bright twilight sky, really enjoyed this painting from a new perspective!
Original cow paintings for sale
Colours inspired by Harris Tweed, this time its the orange plaid!
I'm having such a wonderful time with colour this week, on a selection of new paintings that are nearing completion. Using the beautiful colours of orange and maroon Harris Tweed as inspiration.
I am producing fewer really big Highland Cow original paintings for sale on my website. This is simple a practical decision for paintings which will need to be safely dtored until purchase.
However, if you would like to discuss a painting created just for you please get in touch, i can create pieces up to 150cm wide
Colourful Cow Painting
I got such a good feeling using these glorious colours that I am going to keep doing it. Here is another feel-good Highland Cow piece in the most delicious colour palette. Sometimes I wake up in the morning and I feel the need, the need for pink!
'Wearing Bracken'
Check out my new prints here
A New Stag Canvas Print has been Released This Week
The original oil painting has sold, but I have released an open edition print, on canvas as shown here, and also on best-quality fine art paper. I am working with a specialist printing company that makes the prints to order and ship them directly to the customer from their premises. This helps me offer efficient shipping times, particularly as they have centers worldwide, so international shipping is economical too.
Highland Bulls - a couple of smaller works in progress
Sometimes I like to go through my pile of unfinished canvases and turn them into something new. So this week I started these two young Highland Bulls in a similar palette of rust and stormy blue. The guy on the left is 50 x 60 cm and on the right 70 x 70 cm. Both of these will be available for sale when they are finished.
A highly textured cow painting takes time to dry!
You can see how thick the paint is, on this piece. The first full layer took two weeks to properly dry, and this is another layer of bright oil paint - I like to use contrasts and hues to create the illusion of depth, and to make the entire surface of the canvas interesting to look at. This is a cow with a sweet countenance and a little attitude in her stance. Looking forward to getting her finished this week.
Hares today
Wildlife Paintings for Sale UK
I have been working on some wildlife paintings, beginning with these new hare paintings. I enjoy the challenge of trying to capture their expressive faces. These most recent hare paintings will be available on my website in a few days. They are smaller pieces at 45 x 65 cm and 50 x 60 cm.
A new hare on my easel yesterday
I spent the afternoon with this lovely hare, reference is courtesy of Frances Cricklow Photography. I will add whiskers when he is dry.
A painting course in Derbyshire.
Derbyshire Art Workshops
This was only the second art workshop to be held in the new space at Creative Melbourne Gallery. Upstairs above the main gallery floor there is a mezzanine that runs all the way around. This is a light-filled area ideal for painting in. We had a lovely day, everyone was very friendly and chatty with each other and it was a mixed-level group, with half beginners and half improvers. Everyone left with a beautiful and very colourful painting in their own style.
I have had some very nice feedback about the workshop and the venue, and hope to hold another one there in 2023.
“Such a fab day with lovely people and loved our Highland cow herd”
“Just a short note of thanks for a most enjoyable day.I felt that I learned so much. You really are an excellent teacher.Time went so quickly.
Nearly forgot the cake was delicious.
Thank you again.”
“Very enjoyable day, many thanks Sue”
A trip to Urban Clay in Aylsham!
Meeting up again with my first Highland Cow original painting!
And admiring a beautifully painted mini-coo!
We spent a couple of days in Norfolk this week, visiting family. I wanted to visit Urban Clay run by the lovely Jo and Liz (my sister) . It is a beautiful place! People paint pottery here and eat cake, what could be better? Mark took the opportunity to create a 360-degree walk-through photograph tour that they can use on their website, while Liz and I sat on the floor behind the counter, hiding, and enjoying a natter.
Liz and Jo (above) are the brains and beauty behind Urban Clay Aylsham
Painting Birds - art workshop
A Wonderful Art Retreat, Painting Colourful Woodland Birds
What a lovely weekend spent painting with such a nice group of artists! Sharpe's Pottery Heritage and Arts Trust We were very nicely catered for by Sweet Caroline on both days with a super buffet, and toasties. And of course, there was plenty of cake - artists need to keep their strength up after all. We tried a variety of different acrylic painting techniques. The group all have different levels of expertise in different media so it was a really interesting weekend. Everyone got on really well and gave help, support and encouragement to one another. There was a lot of laughter and joking around, and everyone ended up producing 3 beautiful small paintings (apart from John who was on a roll on day 2 and painted two or three more!) Everyone took a paint kit home with them so they can carry on painting straightaway. I'm hoping they will keep in touch, and show me the results.
Painting Barn Owls
Barn Owls are some of my favourite birds to paint!
Paint with me and create your own owl at my next owl workshops. Beginners and improvers welcome. More info here
If no owl workshops are currently scheduled, I can offer small group workshops, just get in touch
Cow Painting with Flowers
Highland cows and flowers- what a combination
I have just rediscovered this collage I put together of my first four Wildflower Cow paintings. I just love the combination of the gentle cows and the tangled nature around them. See my latest available cow paintings here, or get in touch to commission a bespoke Cow Painting with Flowers
A new stag!
Artist who paints animals
As an artist who paints animals and birds almost every day, I like to see them looking somewhat contented!
One of the visitors at the festival last week told me that all my painted animals look happy. It was the most perfect comment because that's exactly what I work towards! I don't know whether this new guy looks cheerful or slightly smug. Perhaps there is a hidden hand back there giving him a bum scratch.
Moo-ve Over: Where to Buy Cow Paintings in the UK
There are many places to buy cow paintings in the UK, both online and in physical stores. Some popular options include art galleries, open studios, online marketplaces like Etsy and Amazon, and speciality home decor stores like Wayfair and Dunelm. You can also try searching for local artists or visiting art fairs and markets in your area.
For those interested in Sue Gardner cow art, there are open-edition prints and homewares available for purchase at various boutiques and stores in the UK and internationally, through my licensing partners. Additionally, I offer a selection of prints for sale on my website. However, if you are looking for a truly unique piece, I offer original cow oil paintings. These one-of-a-kind paintings are not only a beautiful addition to any collection but also have the potential to appreciate in value over time. Check out my recent releases to see if any catch your eye.
Painting Birds - Workshop next weekend!
Im getting really excited about this now! This will be my first 2 day painting weekend workshop and Im holding it at Sharpes Pottery Museum, one of my favourite venues! This week I will be sourcing as many lovely woodland bird reference images as I can find, so that there is plenty of choice. Each guest will get the chance to paint three small bird canvases over the weekend. We will explore the shaped and markings and habitat of the birds themselves, and place them into beautiful light filled woodland settings from our imagination.
There is still time to join us - information on booking here.
Some photos from the Festival
Participating in Melbourne Festival 2022 was a great experience. My location was in Hourlier Wines, a father, and son business that specialises in French wines. The beautiful timbered brick building and elegant bottles provided the perfect setting for my colourful glossy oil paintings.
New colourful Highland Cows and Melbourne Festival at the weekend
Introducing New Multi-coloured Cow Paintings
Two big and bright New Multi-coloured Cow Paintings., I’ll be taking at least one piece to Melbourne Festival at the weekend.
I will be hosted by Pierre Hourlier Wines, at Melbourne Hall. I hope you will come and say hello if you are passing. There is a lovely cafe next door.
There will be 150 artists exhibiting at the art trail, it takes all weekend to visit the whole village. Artists are taking up temporary residence in homes and businesses throughout the Derbyshire villagevillage
Ballater - A new Highland Cow portrait
A new painting in acrylics. A very bright piece with lots of joyful rainbow colours. I have named her ‘Ballater’ after the beautiful Scottish village, one of the favourite places of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.
Rainbow Cow Painting Course
I was so delighted to welcome three generations from a family to my Rainbow Cow painting course back in the Spring. Here are the beautiful cow canvases painted by the ladies who were daughter, mother and grandmother. None of them had picked up a paintbrush since school, and they all thoroughly enjoyed finding their creative talents once again. Painting is so therapeutic, and it’s available to everybody, you don’t need masses of equipment to start, and like any skill, the more you do it-the more skilful you become. It’s really quite addictive too!
