‘SURPRISE’, A SHEEP HAS INFILTRATED THE HERD!
A Herdwick Sheep Art print joins the collection
You’ve not gone crazy, I have indeed painted a sheep! I just couldn’t help myself. I had this idea a long time ago while staring down my camera lens. ‘What if a sheep just ‘photobombed’ my shot?’ It amused me so much but I wanted to stay firm to my no.1 rule; cows only. But when I saw this cheeky Herdwick, Boris while scrolling Instagram, I knew it just had to be done. And as today marks National Hug A Sheep Day, it seemed like the perfect time to reveal it. I still can’t quite believe that there is a Herdwick Sheep art print in the collection but I’m so pleased with the outcome.It makes me chuckle every time I see it. You can buy your own ‘Surprise’ Limited Edition Print here.
MEET BORIS!
We all know how much I love to paint cows, but a lot of people are surprised to hear it was actually on a sheep farm that I spent a lot of my childhood. Saying that, I’ve never quite had the same relationship with sheep that I do with cows. Maybe I’ve spent too much time pushing them up hills in the pouring rain and dragging them out of ditches. However I do make an exception for the incredibly cute Herdwick!
The Lake District and Cumbria where I spend a lot of my time, is well known for Herdwick sheep. With their sweet smiles and fluffy coats, they really are characters. This little cheeky chap, Boris, is no.1 ram of The Morningside Herdwick flock in the Lincolnshire Fens.
MEET THE HERDWICK FLOCK
The Morningside flock had pretty similar origins to my own businesses start; it came out of the blue! Now Shepherdess, Rachel always loved Herdwick sheep and after much persuasion, convinced her husband to swap their perfect big house, for a little bungalow with 6 acres of land. It was here Rachel could fulfil her dream of keeping sheep. On a cold windy day in 2018 they picked up their first 4 girls from Nottinghamshire Wildlife trust. 2019, these ewes brought 7 skipping little lambs to the world. The following year the handsome Boris, featured in the painting, was born. Boris was the best ram, Rachel had ever bred. With that contagious grin it’s not hard to see why! The flock are kept and sold for breeding and pets, not meat, so each one is tame and eager to socialise with their owners, something rare in sheep who are known for their flightiness! The Morningside Herd remains a small flock due to ease of handling but each sheep is highly valued and treated as a member of the family.
Follow Morningside Herd on instagram for more adorable photographs; @morningsideherdwicks