North Yorkshire based Philippa is an award winning member of the Society of Equestrian Artists and has been painting all animals professionally since graduating with a honours degree in 1995. She lives with successful Racehorse Trainer, Philip Kirby and their two children, Isabella (17) and Indiana (13). Visit http://www.philipkirbyracing.co.uk to view the racing website.
Painting has taken a back seat while their children are growing up, although Philippa has produced a small number of works every year while juggling the ponies and the racing yard as its has grown into one of the largest in the North. Increasing help with admin is now allowing her to spend more time on commissions again, as well as continuing to enjoy competing with her daughters and ponies, manage their small breeding operation under the ‘Monivea’ prefix and run the yards many Racing Partnerships. She has really enjoyed competing again on her homebred stallion in 2022, ‘Monivea Black Magic’ – she is pictured below riding his dam, Chantilly Lace IV at Hickstead in 2004 and hopes to ride ‘Merlin’ there for the first time in 2023. A judge of ridden horses and ponies, Philippa was honoured to have been invited to judge the Ridden Coloured Horses and Ponies at last years ‘Horse of the year Show’ .
Pippa with ‘Monivea Black Magic ‘ so thrilled to win at The Great Yorkshire Show in 2022
Previously Philippa painted extensively, and both her Originals and Limited Editions continue to sell extensively world wide. Famous names include ‘Denman’ , ‘Best Mate’ & ‘Cool Dawn’ – Cheltenham Gold Cup winners, ‘Red Marauder’ Grand National winner and numerous leading show horses, ponies, Eventers & Show Jumpers. The Olympic dressage stallion, ‘Dutch Gold’ was a memorable commission in the world of dressage.
Being a show judge and having competed all her life, the Artist has a keen eye for detail and noticing the make and shape of each individual horse or pony she paints. ‘Capturing the spirit and a true likeness of the subject’ is always the main objective, and her reputation has been built on this ability. Wether in oils or watercolours, from the smallest Jack Russell to the Countries finest Equine Stars, Philippa pays each subject the same attention to detail and gives all her customers the guarantee of only paying for the finished painting if 100% delighted with the result.
Highlights of Philippa’s artistic career to date include presenting HM the Queen in person with a painting of her two champion Highland ponies at Windsor Castle in 2004, a very special day. She was also thrilled that when auctioned, two of her racing originals realised impressive sums of money for charity, ‘Best Mate’ making £13,500 and ‘Sadler’s Wells’ £8,500. Philippa has painted many champions show horses and ponies in the Uk and Australia- two notable HOYS Supreme Champions include the outstanding cob, ‘Hallmark’ and five times HOYS winner, ‘Thistledown Van Der Vaat.’
The Artist has a waiting list and welcomes your commission enquiries on pippakirby@icloud.com or (07711) 709876. For prices please visit the Price List page, and for further examples of her work, the Gallery page.
www.philippakirbyartist.com 