09 May The International Art Scene

I was in an exhibition the other day, and the ‘blurb’ about the artist included a paragraph :

“ She has paintings in collection in America, France,….” etc, etc.

It started me thinking  about where my paintings have gone over the years, and I realised that we have several  paintings in each of America, Dubai, South Africa, and  Australia and a few single paintings in  several other countries.

But we can now add Hong Kong to the list.

A few years ago we had an approach from a racehorse owner in Hong Kong, Gary Ling, to purchase the painting ‘Photofinish’. Gary had heard about my art on the website, but checked with a local painter too, who  kindly told him that he thought I was one of top equine painters currently working in the U.K.

Unfortunately, that painting had already sold, but as with all of my paintings on the website, we offered to supply it as a canvas mounted signed colour print.

These are supplied in any size, on wooden ‘stretchers’ and can be hung unframed.

Gary, who works as an insurance underwriter in Hong Kong, gave us the bespoke size he wanted for a wall in his new flat, and despite a huge delay, and nearly getting lost by Parcel Force, the print was eventually delivered.

Gary kindly gave us some positive feedback on the print, and said he hoped one day to commission a painting.

This year, he did just that. He wanted a painting that depicted the all-out thrust and excitement of a race finish, based on a race that he won a few years ago, in which his father also had a runner. His father has been a racing fan for over 5 decades, and Gary was hooked by age six. The first horse they had, in 1997, became the Champion Two year old in HK, and went on to become Champion Sprinter, so there was no going back!

Working long distance for a client is always slightly tricky, but Gary was very helpful in supplying many images of the finish, and even a link for me to see a replay of the actual race.

As he wasn’t going to be able to see the painting till it arrived, as we usually do in these situations, I supplied photographs of its progress at every stage, from sketch to final painting.

A Covid 19  outbreak in Hong Kong and the resulting ‘lockdown’ then added  further complications, as Gary couldn’t get to the bank to pay for it !

But finally, last month the painting was delivered (we used UPS t

The finished painting

his time, with excellent service) and I’m pleased to say Gary is thrilled with it.

Initial sketch

So another country added to the list, and I hope maybe to paint for Gary again,  I really enjoyed making this painting.