Hi, I’m Myfanwy. I’m a sporting artist and I specialise in Fine Art. I’ve been painting horses for as long as I can remember. My teachers at school had to prize my exercise books away from me in class as I would use virtually anything to draw horses on. I was obsessed. I began riding at the age of 3 and had my first pony by the time I was 7 years old. My Mum loves to remind me the story of our trip to Burghley – I couldn’t help but stare as Susan Crawford painted at her easel. Even at 7 years old I claimed “that’s what I want to do when I grow up.”

Fast forward to my time at Shrewsbury High School where art was always where I flourished most. I flirted with the idea of becoming an architect but painting horses was just too important to me and my passion really lay with Fine Art. So after I left school I became a student at Aberystwyth University, studying Fine Art. I was gifted the Merit Award after completing a scholarship exam and my first year at university was spent much like a foundation course. I experimented with photography, ISP, printing and drawing. However I knew from the beginning what path I would take with my art; my ambition was always to become an equestrian painter. I finished my course at Aberystwyth with a First Class Honours degree and stayed to complete my Masters part-time so I could continue painting commissions for private clients, something I had begun during my summer holidays. That’s where ‘Myfanwy’s Art’ took off. My final piece was actually arranged as a commission too so it could be sold on after the exhibition. My gallery work modules gained Distinctions and I completed my Masters degree overall with a Merit. 

I since moved to Hampshire in October 2019 after I finished my course and I’ve continued to sell commissions to private clients internationally.

Since January 2022 I’ve been spending time in Wales again whilst my husband is on deployment. It’s given me the chance to catch up with friends and family, but also explore other routes with my art. For a long time I’ve had to sacrifice producing my own private collection, and exploring other methods of Fine Art as I’ve been mostly producing commissions for my private clients. I’m using this time in Wales to get back into the practice of using pastels and I went on a visit Newmarket to open up new avenues for art projects, and add to my collection.

Trip to Newmarket
19-20 February 2022

This was such an amazing experience despite the horrendous weather! A friend of mine – Shropshire photographer, Meg Higginson – and I ventured to Newmarket to get some photographs and experience what this wonderful place had to offer. We visited Newmarket museum and I felt truly inspired by all the incredible art on show. We were also given a tour around The British Racing School which was hugely impressive. The students are so well disciplined and the whole place is so immaculate with so much to offer. We were given the opportunity to ‘race’ on a mechanical horse, which brought back my memories of Pony Racing all those years ago.

The next day we visited Harry Eustace’s yard (pictured above). It was such a fantastic opportunity to visit the yard and meet the horses; get an insight into the everyday workings of a racing yard. We were kindly given the chance to go up to the gallops and take some fantastic photos, some of which I hope to use in the production of my next painting as part of my private collection. 

As part of our visit I delivered a commission to a private client who kindly gave us a tour of Newmarket and it was wonderful to fully understand the way this fabulous place worked. The town has literally built itself around the horses. We didn’t want to leave – it was easy to see why people get addicted to the racing lifestyle as the passion for the horses and the sport is wholly apparent. 

Before leaving we ventured into the museum again – which I highly recommend if you’re ever visiting – and explored the history of racing into further detail. 

I would say – if you’re a fan of horses, of racing and of art – then you need to go. It gives you such an appreciation for the work and the love that goes into this sport. Racing has developed such a poor reputation but the horses have wonderful lives, and every individual horse is provided with great love and care. I was so impressed with the art on show at the museum too. Paintings by George Stubbs and Sir Alfred Munnings feature prominently within the Palace House.

Getting Back Into Pastels 
25th February 2022

6 years ago I had the fantastic opportunity to learn how to paint in pastels. I booked into numerous courses provided by Aberystwyth artist Mary Herbert, who taught me how to use pastels, specifically Caran D’ache, on pastelmat paper. It’s a totally different way to painting than oils or acrylics, as the colour mixing isn’t on the palette, but rather the pastelmat itself as you’re working. 

I haven’t touched the pastels for a long time as I’ve been so busy with the oil painting, despite owning a set of pencils for a number of years. I finally decided to delve into using them again and drew this pastel portrait (above) of my Mum’s Siamese cat, Frodo. I’m not well versed when it comes to cats, so this was a real challenge. But I’m happy with the outcome and I was excited to begin using them again.

For now, I’m back to a few oil portraits as I continue with some more private commissions and as I add to my collection which I hope to display in galleries and exhibit locally. 

Gift Vouchers

I’ve just brought out the opportunity for customers to obtain Gift Vouchers. It’s the perfect gift idea for friends and family, especially if you’re struggling to know what to get them. It can be any amount – a contribution or the full price. It’s totally up to the client. 

Terms & Conditions apply.

Newmarket Bays

After trying my hand at pastels, I used the trip to Newmarket to inspire this piece titled ‘Newmarket Bays.’ Meg very kindly forwarded the image which led to this composition. A few things were changed – such as the horizon line, the lack of trees in the background, the colours of the exercise sheet on one of the horses and the colours the jockeys were wearing. As someone who focuses entirely on detail this was a totally different style of painting for me. I tried to “block in” the paint and take a step back from the precision that is typically required of my commission work. The painting forced me to become looser with my application of paint and meant I wasn’t such a slave to the detail that I normally observe whilst working. This was a real challenge but one I enjoyed. The painting is also the biggest piece I have done for some time, at 100 x 100cm. ‘Newmarket Bays’ was recently exhibited at The Willow Gallery in Oswestry and will soon be going to The Shrewsbury Museum and Art Gallery in December as part of the annual Shrewsbury High School Exhibition.

Commissions

For the remainder of 2022 I have continued to produce more commission work for a number of clients. One of my latest pieces, pictured above titled ‘Woody,’ was an entirely new design of commission preference. The client was keen to have miniatures of herself and the horse riding which would surround the main portrait of the horse. I’ll be honest – I was apprehensive as it wasn’t something I had even trialled before. It was an entirely new idea for a commission painting. However, I was happy to give this a try, and it would potentially add another type of commission request I was successfully able to achieve for any other future clients looking for something similar.

I am very happy to say that it worked out and the client was extremely thrilled with the result, and I’m very proud that I was able to achieve something that I did at first feel apprehensive about.

For now, I have more commissions to complete in time for early next year and I will be returning to Wales to spend time with my family for Christmas, before my husband goes off on deployment again in January.