Spirit of Scotland is an original Highland cow oil painting combining one of Scotland’s most recognisable animals with a vintage map of the country.
I painted the Highland cow emerging from the old map, with the outline of Scotland incorporated into the composition around it.
I wanted the painting to be more than a straightforward animal portrait, bringing together the character of the Highland cow with the landscape, history and identity of Scotland.
Highland cattle are one of my favourite Scottish subjects because of their distinctive appearance and individual character.
Painting details: Original oil painting on stretched canvas. Completed in 2021. Size: 20 × 16 inches / approximately 50.8 × 40.6 cm. Canvas depth: approximately 1.27 cm. Signed on the front. Ready to hang. One-of-a-kind artwork.
Artwork by Gordon Bruce.