Page 4 - OSG: Nichola Eddery: 2025

Silks, Horses & Hounds

Nichola’s passion for art, horses, dogs, silks and portraying the graceful
and the sporting world began at an early racehorse and the elegant sighthound.
age. From being born into a horse racing Her inspiration for this body of work
family dating back to three generations began with a series of museum visits
of notable jockeys and trainers on both from sketching Hellenistic sculpture
sides and brought up on a stud, Nichola in Athens to exhibitions in London
was sketching her four-legged friends showcasing Sir Edwin Landseer’s
or on the back of her pony. dog portraits and John Singer Sargent’s
Finishing school, she dedicated incredible fashion portraits in the
many years to traditional training in Tate Britain, which have been
drawing and oil painting at renowned significant in creating her jockey
ateliers in Italy, France, and America, and sighthound depictions.
thus giving her the valuable and Subsequently, Nichola has been
necessary skills to capture her the artist in residence at the National
chosen subjects. During her twenties, Horse Racing Museum for the past
alongside her painting, she rode out year and a half and has had the great
racehorses every morning. She was privilege of drawing inspiration from
also significantly involved in her father the museum’s collection, teaching
Pat Eddery’s training establishment, masterclasses, making transcriptions,
strengthening her ability to portray and having the honour of observing
the racehorse. leading jockeys pose in notable silks
Over the past two decades, Ms in the museum’s grounds.
Eddery’s primary focus has been On this creative journey, Nichola has
sporting art and portraiture; she has created a variety of pieces, including
exhibited in London and internationally, the painting ‘The Sport of Kings and
including four solo shows and many Queens”, a 3/4 life-size portrait of James
group exhibitions and producing Doyle on Tactical in the King’s silks
bespoke work for clients worldwide, in front of a 19th Century painting by
including the Saudi and Qatari Royal James Pollard of the Ascot Heath, a
families and leading racehorse owners. homage to Royal Ascot, and the painting
She has also had the honour of being ‘Noble Hunter’ portraying a whippet in
commissioned to paint notable front of the famous 13th Century V&A’s
racehorses such as Sadler’s Wells, Devonshire Hunting Tapestry. From
Honor Code, Postponed, and Simple Nichola’s studio in the Rothchild’s yard
Verse, to name a few. to The Osborne Studio Gallery, you will
Nichola’s fifth solo exhibition experience Nichola’s love for capturing
explores the sporting motif, primarily silks, horses, and hounds.
celebrating the jockey in iconic owners’

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