"Y Cob Cvmraeg" - "The Welsh Cob"

The image of artists is often one of the Bohemian, free to paint when the mood takes them. For this artist nothing could be further from the truth. To be successful an equine artist must be disciplined, single minded and prepared for the disappointments, as well as the successes. But Debbie Dunbar counts herself as most fortunate that she is able to make her living from a fusion of both of her life long passions.

Living in the rural heartland of West Wales is a haven for this artist, the people have a deep inbred passion for their horses, and their pride in their Welsh cobs is a constant source of inspiration.

The magnificent Welsh Cob is truly a gift to the equine artist. It has such grace, power and beauty combined and is spectacular to watch in action. These animals are famed for their soundness, versatility, courage and spirit, which makes them a popular outcross to produce modern sport horses. Debbie tries to reflect this spirit in her work. "I love all the diversity of the different horse breeds, but I often find myself returning to the free spirit of the cobs, I fancy you can see their history in them and the strength of their ancestors, coming down through the ages. Sometimes they seem to be almost of another world.

The Welsh have a word for this, "Hwyl" (pronounced "hoyl"} There is no direct English for this but it broadly translates as passion and spirit. When you see this "hwyl" you will know, as it makes the hairs stand up on the back of your neck!

Debbie and her husband run a small stud of Welsh Cobs and Welsh Part Bred Horses, on their farm in West Wales, UK, giving plenty of opportunity to study the details of equine life and interaction.

Debbie says " ...I do favour a representational approach to my work. There is no substitute for observation and attention to detail, and a thorough knowledge of the subject. But if you want a photographic portrayal, commission a photograph and have done with it, this is not the point of my paintings.

I try to capture a sense of the soul of the horse, so whilst knowledge of anatomy and technical painting skills are vita! to my work it is equally important to try and interpret the spirit and vitality of the animal that I am painting.

My whole life seems to revolve around horses, whether on the farm, at shows or painting..."

"...I have always favoured oils as my medium. I love the feel and texture, and the rich depths of colour, the fact that you can use the thinnest of glazes or the heaviest impasto, sometimes I feel that I a sculpting with the paint. I believe that light in a painting is also vitally important, a painting without a sense of the light looses something of its and vibrancy. It has a huge effect on the mood and colour of a scene, so I am always looking for how the light affects the feel of the work."

Amongst her influences as you might expect Debbie cites the great Sir Alfred Munnings and the ultimate technician, Stubbs. Others less obvious include John Singer Sargent and Stanhope Forbes, as well as contemporary artists such as U.S artist Booth Malone, she also greatly admires the work of sculptors such as Priscilla Hann. She enjoys looking at how other artists work and is also an art collector.

"I am always trying to improve my techniques and skills, and get frustrated when things don't go to plan as is often the case!

I also like to study anatomy, though I can't see myself going to the lengths that Stubbs did!* Drawing is very important, it is the foundation upon which your art is built. Just like riding a horse, the more you do it the more natural and spontaneous it becomes."

"I am so very, very fortunate that my passion is my work and my life. I look forward to every day. How many people would love to be able to say the same?"

Particularly known for her ability to capture the horse's presence and movement. Debbie enjoys painting other domestic animals, and has a keen interest in human portraiture, but always returns to her horses. Her work is found in private collections around the world. Closer to home she is proud and honoured that works include commissions for H.R.H. Prince of Wales, and the Welsh Pony and Cob Society.

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