I have always loved cows.
There is something about them that I find completely captivating — their stoic, unhurried nature, the extraordinary variety of their black and white markings, the way they look at you with those enormous calm eyes and seem completely unbothered by absolutely everything going on around them. They are magnificent and slightly ridiculous in equal measure and I adore them for it.
My connection to farm life goes back to my childhood. My grandfather lived in the countryside and summers spent there were filled with the sights, sounds and smells of farm life — including fresh milk collected directly from local farms and the particular pleasure of being around animals every day. I even had the extraordinary privilege of milking a cow once while visiting family who owned a farm. It's one of those experiences that stays with you — the warmth, the smell, the sheer size of them up close. I have never forgotten it.
'Paint It Black' was my chance to paint all of that feeling — all that love of cows and countryside and the particular beauty of those bold black and white markings — in the most expressive, joyful watercolour style I could manage. Loose confident brushwork. Inky drips running down the page. Warm brown tones working alongside the deep blacks to create a portrait that feels genuinely alive. The name came naturally — not just because of those striking markings but because of that song, which I absolutely love.
This is farm animal print art and countryside wall art for anyone who shares that love of the countryside and its creatures. Farm house home decor that brings real character, warmth and a good dose of gentle humour into your home.
Available as a fine art paper print in a range of sizes, framed and unframed.