From horses in gas masks, to polo portraits, sculptures and more, the best equine and country inspired photography, painting and sculpture will lead the field in a new Equine & Country Spirit exhibition. Featuring the leading country and equine artists working today - from Tim Flach’s extraordinary photography of horses including his signature portraits as well as images of horses in different masks to French minimalist artist Quibe’s poetic one line equine drawings.

The exhibition opens at Gallery 8 London in Mayfair in December. The artists included in the exhibition include: Internationally renowned wildlife photographer Tim Flach will be exhibiting work from his series Equus. Flach’s animal photographs have often been likened to classical portraiture and his portraits on show of horses wearing gas masks, head protectors, equine inhalers and blindfolds are both captivating and disturbing, exploring the myriad ways humanity has shaped the horse. The works are printed on Fuji’s MAXIMA paper, an innovative paper with outstanding longevity that offers exceptionally deep colour and detail.

A maquette of British Sculptor Susan Leyland’s Poppy the War Horse, cast by Black Isle Bronze Foundry in Scotland, will also be on show. The piece is an exact replica of the War Horse Memorial, a national monument unveiled in Ascot last year to pay tribute to the millions of UK, Allied and Commonwealth horses, mules and donkeys who gave service and sacrifice in World War One. The exhibited sculpture is one of 100 limited edition maquettes, each hand finished by the artist. Maquette number one was gifted to HM The Queen and number 10 is on display at Downing Street. Just under 50 maquettes are still available to purchase and the proceeds from each sale go to the War Horse Memorial.

French artist and illustrator Quibe’s beautiful and graphic one-line illustrations capture moments, movement and different perspectives with an elegant yet unassuming touch that has gained him a following of thousands on social media. His work includes delicate embossed prints and minimalist depictions of polo players in action. Works from renowned polo photographer Alice Gipps will be exhibited, including Tropillas, a large scale and exciting image taken at a traditional gaucho festival in Argentina. One of her most acclaimed photographs to date, Tropillas was gifted to HRH Prince Harry by the Singapore Polo Club in 2017 and it’s understood an edition of the work is also hanging in player Adolfo Cambiaso’s tack room.

Amy Goodman, twice a winner of the prestigious B.S.A.T Best Sculpture Award, is fast gaining a reputation as a highly accomplished equestrian sculptor and her work is increasingly seen in the Public realm. Whether shaping clay for bronze, or welding 3D ‘drawings’ in 10mm steel bar, her elegant animalia works on show capture life and movement. Guy Allen is a printmaker, exceptional draftsman and highly talented young British artist. With his experimental approach to printmaking, Allen presents an exciting mix of colour, gold-leaf and an original, contemporary take on the traditional art of etchings, through which he brings to life animal subjects he’s known since he was a boy growing up in the Norfolk countryside. A number of his refined horse studies will feature in the exhibition.

Painter Tony O’Connor uses a disciplined approach in his study of horse anatomy, focusing mostly on technical execution. As with much of his work, the void of background and simplicity of the pieces serve to highlight the natural physical perfection of these animals. The result of his inimitable combination of an innate aptitude for draughtsmanship and his lifelong passion for horses is a body of beautifully evocative paintings that capture the unique power and grace of the equine form. Another painter, Debbie Harris’ works vary from highly detailed dog portraits to squared loose canvasses depicting monochrome horses and hounds.

Equine & Country Spirit is The Country House & Stables’ second exhibition following on from last year’s successful show at Gallery 8. The Country House & Stables seek to celebrate both equestrian and country life through paintings, photographs, sketches and sculptures.