The shape of cows, individually and as a herd, move in the landscape in a way that invites me to play with their forms within the geometry of paper and canvas. Cows are often gregarious, protective of their calves and extremely curious. As Rosamund Young says in her recent book, The Secret Life of Cows, “Just like people, cows can be highly intelligent, or slow to understand, friendly, considerate, aggressive, docile, inventive, dull, proud or shy.”

The Cox’s River, which encloses our farm, is a constant source of inspiration. The hovering presence of trees, vines, bush and rocks hint at the diversity of its changing moods, colours and patterns. Some paintings may appear to be abstract but are still recognisably connected to the landscapes of river and cattle country.

Chris Stevenson, 9 th April 2018