Oh my heart. The first work that came through in my do-what-you-can, give-good North Queensland Horses collection, was a big beautiful bullock and his best friend Ella.

This is a limited edition giclee print on art paper. The work size is just inside 15cm x 15cm.

A little more on the piece…
The first work in this special Northern Queensland Horses collection is actually of a big beautiful bullock named Rudolph. Rudolph, or Rudi, grew up with little Ella caring for him, and he became part of the family for nine years. Sadly, seven of those years would be battling drought. The heartache I feel for all those devastated by this disaster in Northern Queensland, is quite possibly summed up with this pair. Even though I am painting ponies lost to this flood, this little girl and her beloved Rudi epitomise the life these tried and toughened men, women and children live on the land. Particularly on these big acres, they are their everything. It’s the centre of their world, and you literally cannot see anything from the centre of that world that is not your responsibility to care for, and nurture and keep alive. Ella’s mum tells of poddy shows put on by Ella and Rudi, which then evolved into the full blown annual Argyle Christmas Show each year where she would invite the station staff, friends and people from town to come and watch them perform together. She would do tricks up on his back, put on a dog show, thrill them all, and finish atop his back, throwing chocolates to the crowd. It is an incredibly special honour to be able to offer a tiny window of peace to a beautiful young lady. I hope she will escape into it and return to happy days with him, knowing now he has a paddock full of feed and their beautiful memories together, for all days.