Local artist Amanda Davidson paints animals fulfilling her passion
Artist Amanda Davidson of Dragonfly Art in Crossgar has a passion for animals, mostly horses, and it show in her works that fill the walls of her studio.
Amanda has always loved animals large and small, and had been a dog groomer for 15 years up to the Covid pandemic when she herself experienced it first hand.
She said: ”I had been living in the Black Hills of South Dakota for 25 years and really enjoyed having horses and riding on the open country there. My daughter too got into horse-riding too when she was young and I attended many different events.
“It was a great experience seeing ranching up close, and attending rodeos, barrel racing and riding on mountain trails.
“But I’m back here in County Down and I opened up the studio in early 2024. I now enjoy going to the point-to-point horse meetings and I trek in the Mournes and along our lovely beaches.
“On returning to County Down I started drawing, sketching, and painting in waterclours in 2019 but settled down to paint mainly in oils which is my favourite medium.
“I very much self-taught and I have attended many shows where I have had stands and sold my works. People seem to really enjoy my horse painting and its just a dream doing something you love.
“I actually do a fair bit of commissions for clients, mostly horses, but I do a few dog portraits and some cats too trying to bring out their essential character and grace.
Amanda explained that she named her studio Dragonfly Art based on an experience she had while in America. She said: “The dragonflies were buzzing over a cornfield. It was an amazing sight to see and one very large blue one landed on my shoulder. It was absolutely beautiful and left a huge impression on me being touched by nature.
“I now paint in the studio on the Downpatrick Road in Crossgar and I’m open most days.
“Currently I am preparing paintings for my stand at the horse show at the RDS in Dublin next week so it’s a busy time for me. This is a top event and it’s just great to be able to see so many lovely and fascinating horses there and meet great people.
“I sell the original paintings and can make limited edition giclee prints from some which are high quality that does not fade with a special ink process.
“I’m very lucky doing something I have a passion for… painting animals. I have paintings of foxes, highland cows, and some birds but my default subject is always horses.
“Occasionally, I collaborate with photographers on works if they have a really interesting photo I can work on, but mostly I’m busy with commissions.
“You can view some of my works on my website gallery at: Dragonfly Art “.
Email: [email protected]
Tel: 07493006976.
Dragonfly Art Studio,
34a Downpatrick Street,
Crossgar,
BT30 9EA.
Opening Hours:
Tuesday-Friday 9am-5pm. Saturday 9am-1pm. Closes Sunday and Monday.
