Jackie has an eye for all things equestrian

AN EAST Clare-based artist has swapped the reins for a set of artist’s pencils, as she heads to the Dublin Horse Show next month.

Jackie O’Donoghue, a Cork native, is a pet portrait artist based in Tulla, and is looking forward to heading to the world-famous horse show in August to showcase a stunning array of character portraits of family pets and wildlife. With an eye of all things equine, Jackie captures the power and majesty of the horse. She also has a talent for capturing the traits and personality quirks of other livestock, pets and wildlife. Her collection includes expert images of horses and riders, faithful hounds, beloved donkeys, charming piglets and more. She is also regularly commissioned to capture portraits that help to ensure that cherished pets always stay close to the heart.

With a keen eye for the natural world, Jackie grew up on a rural family farm in County Cork. This instilled in her a love of nature and a passion for animals, especially horses and dogs. Because she grew up with and owned horses, Jackie has gained an invaluable understanding of the anatomy, movement and individual personalities of these powerful animals. Jackie’s deep love of nature has inspired her to capture many beautiful animals on paper including a cheeky donkey, a startled hare, a curious fox and many more. She uses soft earthy, natural tones and textures as a way of bringing character and nature into her work. Working from photographs Jackie not only creates a true likeness of the animal but also brings out the character and soul of each individual pet. She uses the highest quality lightfast pencils which means the portrait will last a lifetime and the colours won’t fade.

Jackie will be attending this years Dublin Horse Show running from Wednesday, August 9 to Sunday, August 13. The event dates back to the 1860s and is one of the highlights of the Irish equestrian calendar. Every year, the event attracts thousands of people to celebrate Ireland’s affinity with the horse. Jackie is a regular at the show, but this year, she will trade her horse boxes for a selection of her portraits. Having previously competed in showing classes on numerous occasions, Jackie said she is excited to showcase her two passions in life. “It will be a different experience this year to be showcasing my horse portraits rather than my horses,” she said. “I am looking forward to meeting many friends and associates from the equine world in my new artistic arena. A portrait is a great way to cherish the pets you love and is also a really unique gift. I am actually very nervous to be showing my art at such a prestigious event, however with the support of my family and friends who are encouraging me all the way I’m taking this opportunity to display my art.”

Jackie’s work can also be viewed at Jackieodonoghueart.com.