Mary Herbert

Divine Ovine	Slumber Party

Born in 1967, Mary grew up on a smallholding and studied art at a young age with her father, then later at Loughborough Art College.  She went on to specialise in photography, although continued to paint animals outside the day job, and she regularly took part in exhibitions around the country and work on private commissions, as she still does now.  In 2005, she was elected to Full Membership of the Society of Equestrian Artists, and this provided the impetus to become a full time artist: a decision she has never regretted.

Anyone looking at Mary’s work should soon notice she has more than a passing interest in animals.  Beginning her career principally as a painter of horse portraits, over the years she has expanded her subject range to include dogs, wildlife, farm animals, even humans – as long as it has a face, she probably wants to paint it!  To Mary, her subject - whatever the species -  is always an individual with unique characteristics.  Add to this her fascination with light and texture and appreciation of anatomy, and it’s easy to see why she can’t help creating her detailed pastel creature studies.

Mary's website http://www.portra.co.uk