Working Spaniel

OIL ON CANVAS
YEAR: 2024

SOLD AT AUCTION

This Painting captures the scene of a Working Springer Spaniel retrieving a Cock Pheasant on a warm October day. With stunning brushstroke details, this Oil Painting captures a quintessential game day. Finishing the piece with a bespoke WP signature I decided to blend subtly into the Tall Autumn grass.

BEHIND THE BRUSH

“I’ll never forget this painting. It holds a special place in my heart as it was the first time anyone other than my family or close friends had seen my artwork in the flesh. This Framed Oil on Canvas was held proudly at a Chatsworth Auction Event in Derbyshire. I think I was 19 or had just turned 20 as it was on my birthday. This was not only the first ever event I had been too. But also the first where my artwork was displayed to a crowd of over 500 people. I went with my family and could only bring one friend. But managed to sneak 2 in. In all honesty I was nervous. Imagine you’ve only shown your art to people you can count on 2 hands and now your putting on your prom suit and walking past hundreds of well dressed people carrying your paintings to a stage. I’d never been in an environment like it. No amount of practise at home on your own on how to talk to people and come across professionally to potential buyers for the first time can prepare you for what’s about to happen. No matter how many deep breaths I took, the butterflies wouldn’t go and my hands couldn’t stop sweating.

To help anyone that’s reading this that wants to jump into their dream but are scared they might drown. When you fear, is when you must jump. Now I look back every-time I felt anxious, doubt, feelings like I think I can do where I’m at right now but I don’t think I’m ready for the next level. You are when you make the decision to do it. It’s about how you get back up, it was never about the fall. Every feeling of doubt and uncertainty or fear of embarrassment. Feel it. And know with all your heart it is just the adrenaline you need to get you to where you need to go. To perform. Funnily enough after all that every conversation I had on that day went better than I could’ve imagined, meeting some lovely people and having my Framed Oil on Canvas bought at Auction for £1,600. Also having the opportunity to pass it on and have a wonderful talk to the Lady that bought it. Life’s funny ain’t it? A day I made my family and myself proud and just the beginning. Sometimes you just have to do it to realise that you can.”