As represented in early cave paintings, we have been inspired by the beauty, majesty, and freedom that horses embody for as long as we know. Artist, designer, and rider Vanessa Whittell captures our age-old fascination with equines with a modern twist. Pulling from her foundation as an illustrator, graphic designer, and highly skilled painter, she honed her skills working commercially and now blends her work with her passion for horses. She creates one-of-a-kind pieces for clients. Her work is available through the Kube Gallery and can be seen at High Point, Thunderbird Show Park, and many private homes around the country. She works collaboratively with clients on commissions as well as offering prints and cards. Stay tuned for upcoming workshops!
She is a committed artist, horse lover, and lifelong learner, and admittedly, it all seems a bit effortless, but as we know, running your own small business, owning horses, and having a creative practice is anything but easy. Still, Vanessa pulls her passions together to produce work that is light but precise, specific, and open, leaving space for viewers to meander around the canvas and enjoy the texture, space, and emotion of her subject.
“You have to stay in it. Have a vision for yourself and follow it.”
Finding your niche in the horse industry can be tricky. Vanessa has developed a clientele over time, fostering relationships and developing connections. She has evented for most of her life but is now focusing on dressage and working equitation. You can see her at equine expos and even painting live at Thunderbird Show Park in Langley. She is continually pushing herself to explore new styles and perspectives in her paintings. Her subjects include dressage, show jumping, and portraits, as well as dust-swept western horsemen. She has a diverse and cohesive style that ranges from contemporary simplicity to modern representation. Her new focus is incorporating landscape elements, which is a dazzling culmination of design and composition.
Vanessa’s work celebrates the bond between horse and human. It’s an important part of a horsemanship journey to stop and pay tribute to the relationship. Honouring the bond between an equine companion is a valuable treasure to hang on a wall. As our ancestors did before us, Vanessa surrounds her viewers with the undefinable beauty of the horse.
Learn more
vanessawhittell.com
Article by Lindsay Lorraine
About Lindsay
Lindsay Lorraine is a lifelong creative with an extensive background in various forms such as storytelling, graphic design, textiles, project development, gardening, and the equestrian industry. She was raised in Alberta, educated in Vancouver, ranched in the interior, and now happily lives in Langley.
