People's Choice Award 2019

Ali Bannister

The Spanish Horse

Jackson's Painting Prize 2019
Pastel
Cardboard
35 x 26.5 cm

“There is a quote by Nuno Oliveira, ‘The horse is the best judge of a good rider, not the spectator. If the horse has a high opinion of the rider, he will let himself be guided, if not, he will resist.’

My aim was to produce a picture that showed a horse who has judged his rider and found him worthy of following. It’s a true partnership then; a relationship completely in harmony; two species in sync; speaking a language that both understand and respect. The horse willing to give whatever is asked and the rider wise enough and respectful enough to not ask too much.

The horse in the picture is ‘Karioko’. He belonged to the late Miguel Tovar who won many competitions with his Spanish horses. (This picture was drawn with kind permission from a photograph by Diego López Rodríguez).”