“This was a very difficult subject to paint, I can see why it isn’t frequently painted! The white of the horse was so bright yet the shadows were so dark I wasn’t sure that this painting would work. The colours in the shadows were lovely, warm reflected light and the top planes were cool from reflecting the sky and I think it was these colours that really helped the painting. I did do Philip the farrier a bit of an injustice by making his hair a little too grey although it does add to his character!”