A typical rural Ireland scene, especially here in County Mayo.  These are the Mayo-Connemara Blackface, a particular breed of sheep which evolved and adapted over centuries to survive the harsh conditions on the mountains of Connemara and west Mayo.

They are completely oblivious to modern interruptions, such as cars, and will not move off the road until they are ready to! The Blackface sheep display a magnificent sense of ownership to the land and roads which they graze on, and rightly so! I absolutely adore painting our native sheep and will do so at any opportunity! I always create characters and names when I’m painting them and find myself talking to them from time to time! (Don’t tell anyone!)

They are such a part of our heritage here in Mayo and are truly cherished by us and the people who visit the West of Ireland.