White Horse of Kilburn Painting

Regular readers may remember that back in May I visited the Zillah Bell art gallery in Thirsk and saw a lovely exhibit there all about the local landmark; The White Horse of Kilburn.

I couldn't believe Chris and I had visited the area so often and not seen this White Horse? That very trip we returned to Thirsk from an afternoon in Whitby and caught sight of it!

So, when we holidayed in the area again in August, we went exploring further and did a lovely walk across Sutton Bank from the National Park Visitors Centre, descended in to the wood below the Horse, then walked (drag our sorry backsides) up the side of it and across the top, before returning to the Visitors Centre along Sutton Bank.

But, this walk didn't really offer the best views of the horse, so we swung via Bagley village in the car afterwards, as our guidebook said that Bagley is supposed to have the best views of the Horse. We certainly weren't disappointed!

 View from Sutton Bank- it was stunning!

 Picture taken from below the White Horse, just before the steep ascent to the side of it (not for the faint hearted or weak legged).

The eye of the horse. Our guidebook said that 20 people can stand on that eye- must be 20 very slim people!!

Views of the White Horse from Bagley village.

I think the Horse is a beautiful oddity within the area and can see why it has inspired so many local artists. I find things like this fascinating, even if this particular chalk figure isn't an ancient and mysterious relic from a bygone era, but is actually the work of a local schoolmaster and his pupils from 1857!! I thought I'd have a go at painting it myself (of course).

Think I may have painted my horse a bit too big- oops!

This painting is for sale and, as its not one of my best, is only £25 inc p&p. The painting is 9 X 12 inches, acrylic paint on cotton canvas. Although the more I look at it, I'm coming to rather like it :) Any enquiries please email me at rebecca.greensides@hotmail.co.uk.