REACHING the top of Newmarket’s Warren Hill gallops with Sir Mark Prescott on a late-spring morning, artist Melanie Wright was greeted with an unexpected sight – Sir Mark’s string of Flat-racing royalty with their heads down, grazing in a bucolic woodland, roaming through the trees with their work done.
“All the chestnut trees and blossoms were out, there were these beautiful blades of green grass,” remembers Cotswold-based Melanie, who at the time was on a two-year residency in Newmarket hosted by the British Racing School. “It was absolutely magical and the last thing you would expect in Newmarket.”
This pastoral vignette is a snapshot of the privilege of an artist in residence, a behind-the-scenes glimpse of whichever entity they’ve been deployed to capture through pencil or paintbrush.
Once treated as an artistic sanctuary for creatives without the pressures of day-to-day life, residencies can be traced back to the Renaissance, with historians pointing to the 15th-century Italian politician Cosimo de’ Medici who invited artists to his villa as a front runner of the idea.
Today, it might be less of a solo endeavour – as Melanie says, it can be a highly sociable thing immersing yourself in a community – but tune in to almost any walk of equestrian life and there is likely to be an artist waiting in the wings, adding an air of interest and raising the profile of that institution or corner of the sport.
Denne historien er fra November 02, 2023-utgaven av Horse & Hound.
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Denne historien er fra November 02, 2023-utgaven av Horse & Hound.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Rider Denies Doping After Team Loses Olympic Placing - Tine Magnus and the Belgian team said they do not know the source of the drug that caused the positive test
Olympic eventer Tine Magnus has denied ever doping after her Paris ride Dia Van Het Lichterveld Z gave a positive test at the Games. This means the Belgian team, which came fourth, has been disqualified. On 4 September, the FEI said the 10-year-old mare, owned by Kris van Vaerenbergh, tested positive for trazodone, which is listed as an antidepressant on the FEI's prohibited substances list.
Michael Eilberg
The top dressage rider talks to Polly Bryan about the special horse with the potential to carry him back onto the British team, how to be a better coach and using his talent for teaching to help the sport
Schooling success
Combining school and riding can be tricky, but horses can benefit a child's education. Lottie Morgan uncovers some options for horse-loving pupils
How to get a job in hunting
The British Hound Sports Association's apprentice scheme is providing young people with excellent all-round training in the skills required - and many others besides, as Tessa Waugh discovers
Burke's Affair to remember
A fast round delights one rider who comes away with a coveted grand prix trophy and a rankings class concludes with an unusual tie
Derby winner returns for further Hickstead glory
After watching wife Pippa compete at Burghley, William Funnell returns to the scene of his Derby triumph to win the All England grand prix
Derby winner returns for further Hickstead glory
After watching wife Pippa compete at Burghley, William Funnell returns to the scene of his Derby triumph to win the All England grand prix
'I'm grateful to have such a wonderful partner'
The brilliant duo of Martin Fuchs and Leone Jei seal back-to-back grands prix after a dramatic turn of events
Hamlett takes centre stage
Two horses round off their competitive careers with victories, a championship specialist earns her fourth title and a pair with a combined age of 105 prove invincible
'This is the ultimate five-star test'
Mark Phillips on Burghley's highs, lows, challenges and champions