Win this original painting of a Saddleback pig and owner at The Royal Bath & West Show, Somerset worth £120. Sign up to my newsletter to enter the free draw

 

This watercolour preparation study of a Saddleback pig and owner is 27cm x 18cm signed, and mounted on acid-free card. The newsletter will be sent out on the 16th June 2022.

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The Saddleback pig

Each year I try to visit  The Royal Bath & West Show. It is a large show of all things rural in and around the West Country here in the UK. There is more there than I can possibly say so I always take my sketchbook and paints to note down a few ideas.

I always find myself drawn to the animal show arenas to look at the vast number of breeds of farm animals. For some reason the pig pens are a personal favorite so I thought I would get to work on a bit of pig painting.

The British Saddleback pig was created from the Essex pig and the Wessex Saddleback. So, it is not an ancient breed as it was only registered in 1967.

It does however have many advantages of older breeds as it is very hardy, large and make good bacon. They also make fine parents and will graze happily.

It is also known for its good temperament. I can testify this to myself as in the show arena the saddlebacks tended to be on better behavior than their porcine cousins. Many of the other breeds ran riot whilst being led about for judging. I maybe wrong here though the pinker the porker, the more trouble they caused.

“I am fond of pigs. Dogs look up to us. Cats look down on us. Pigs treat us as equals.”

Winston Churchill

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