Bethany lives a creative lifestyle with her Arabian horses and young son. She loves exploring the links between the artistic and animal worlds, combining nature, coaching and spirituality. Her paintings draw on her knowledge of horses and experience in equestrian theatre. She boldly captures the spirit of these magnificent animals through bold works that explore pattern and detail. Her passion is capturing the character of her subjects through their eyes.

Bethany grew up in France and was home-schooled and encouraged from an early age by her artist mum to create art.  Most of her education involved some art, which later included a correspondence course with the Open College of the Arts in Art Techniques and a further Diploma course in Combined Textiles, Creative Writing and Painting, developing her liking for acrylics, creating lino cuts and printing textiles.

In 2008, she was accepted into Edinburgh University to study Costume Design, but turned it down to help set up a family business of live entertainment shows with horses. Over the past fifteen years, she has performed in many live shows, cabaret productions, photoshoots and films, though her favourite part has always been creating detailed costumes and equipment for the shows. 

Bethany returned to painting during the second lockdown, inspired by a chance meeting with an artist at one of the entertainment shows in Ireland. Her first painting was of a fox she saw there. The space lockdown opened up possibilities for a career change, and after a break to have her son, she commenced painting in earnest and now feels aligned. 

 Bethany combines acrylic portraiture of her subjects with a background of handmade lino cut or foam stamps, giving an interesting juxtaposition between portraiture and abstract.

Motivation

Her three Arabian horses were all gifted to her by various people, including an Arab Sheik and some dear friends. She enjoys spending time with her horses at liberty, riding in balance, and practising yoga and somatic therapy. The horse's visual shapes inspire her painting, along with the soul connection we can have with horses as individuals, which is what she loves to show – particularly in painting their eyes.

Exhibitions

She has exhibited at local painting competitions in France and Suffolk, where her family originated.

• 2024 Unit four Cornucopia, Hawick
• 2024 Lanton Hill, Jedburgh - live drawing sessions with her horses