It is the Chinese New Year on 17th February and 2026 is designated the Year of the Horse. Those born under the lunar sign of the horse are said to be hard-working, brave, independent, sociable and energetic. The horse symbolizes hard work, bravery and independence, and is associated with forward momentum and energy. As we welcome in that equine spirit, we’ve been looking back at the horse sculptures I have created over the years.
The largest of my equine works are the Goodman’s Fields horses in London, commissioned in 2014 by Berkeley Homes for their Aldgate development. For this commission I studied the history of the area where the sculptures were to be sited. At one stage, a Mr Goodman had a livery yard there. I developed the vision of six horses having escaped from their livery stables, stampeding through the development until they are finally brought to a halt by the traffic flow on Leman Street. It’s a dramatic public installation that brings the force and dynamism of galloping horses into the urban landscape.
The Goodman’s Field horse sculptures are of six different types of horse: Arab, Andalusian, Thoroughbred, Shire-Cross, European Warmblood and Irish Cob. They are available in three different sizes. I wanted to portray in bronze the essence of equine motion – muscle, tension and rhythm frozen at a moment of peak intensity. I also wanted to communicate an emotional immediacy that draws viewers in.
Beyond Goodman’s Fields, I have sculpted numerous horses breeds including rare breeds, working horses, and race horses. I have enjoyed studying each one and working out their different personalities.
One such study was a commission by the Household Cavalry to commemorate the Queen’s new Standard presented to them in 2015. The Household Cavalry, formerly The Life Guards and The Blues and Royals, have a mounted regiment whose task it is to carry out traditional ceremonial duties. Every ten years, they are awarded new Standards by the monarch in a ceremony which incorporates a Service of Consecration. This sculpture was a special piece for the officers’ mess made to mark the presentation on Horse Guards Parade. It is not often you get the chance to photograph a mounted Cavalry officer in full charge coming directly at you!
I sculpted a Shire horse in 2011, after seeing the weekly supply of beer from Hook Norton Breweries being taken along the road past my studio to a pub in a nearby village. Shire horses were once the backbone of Britain, and I wanted to celebrate the fact that these beautiful workhorses are still being used in the traditional way here in Oxfordshire.
Calm, placid and strong, the Shire horse holds a special place in the hearts and history of our nation. Originally bred from heavy continental breeds, they became an indispensable part of our agricultural and industrial development. They are such strong, powerful animals, and what better way to have your beer delivered!
In 2022, I sculpted a Suffolk Punch, and learnt about this endangered breed. Originally developed in the 16th century for farm work, the Suffolk pulled artillery during wartime. With the mechanisation of agriculture, this draught horse lost popularity and numbers dwindled until it almost disappeared. The Suffolk Horse Society records the UK population at less than 500, which makes them more critically endangered than the black rhino.
I also sculpted an Arabian horse in 2022. Known for its distinctive dish-shaped profile and high tail carriage, the Arabian is considered one of the world’s oldest developed breeds, dating back around 4,500 years. Quick and spirited, this majestic horse was once valued as a war horse and became the subject of many Arab legends. It is still highly prized for its speed, stamina, beauty, intelligence and good nature.
I sculpted from life from a stallion called Tuwaisan Tha’atha’a. This horse was a gift to Queen Elizabeth II from King Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa, from the Royal stud of Bahrain.
In the spirit of the Chinese zodiac, horses symbolize freedom, energy, and perseverance – qualities that resonate strongly with my equine sculptures. For 2026, the Year of the Horse, these works stand as a celebration of this majestic and inspiring animal, and one of my favourite subjects to sculpt.
If you are interested in finding out more about any of my horse sculptures, please contact me using the form below.
