The Kelpies Return
"Eternity of Legends, oil on canvas. Limited edition archival prints available."
Scotland's Water Horse in Contemporary Art
Scotland's landscape is haunted by horses. Not the domesticated companions of the field and stable, but shapeshifters dwelling in lochs and rivers the kelpies, water horses of Celtic mythology whose stories have endured for centuries. When I began work on "Eternity of Legends," I wasn't simply painting a horse. I was engaging with a narrative thread that connects contemporary Scottish art to our ancient past.
The Mythology Behind the Canvas
The kelpie exists in that liminal space between beauty and danger. In traditional folklore, these supernatural beings would appear as magnificent horses near water's edge, enticing travelers to mount them. Once the unsuspecting rider was seated, the kelpie would plunge into the depths, drowning its victim. Yet despite this dark origin, the kelpie has become one of Scotland's most beloved mythological figures a testament to our cultural fascination with both the equine form and the untamed power of nature.
The Falkirk Kelpies, Andy Scott's monumental steel sculptures, brought this mythology into bold contemporary visibility. Standing thirty meters tall, they've become Scotland's most photographed public artwork. But while Scott's kelpies celebrate engineering and scale, my interest lies elsewhere: in translating this mythology through the intimacy of classical painting technique.
Classical Portraiture Meets Celtic Legend
"Eternity of Legends" approaches the kelpie through the formal language of classical equine portraiture. The composition references centuries of tradition the three quarter pose, the attention to musculature and movement, the careful rendering of mane and form. Yet the execution carries something otherworldly. The flowing lines echo both water's movement and Art Nouveau's organic curves, creating tension between the solid presence of the horse and its mythological nature as a shapeshifter.
This intersection of classical technique and Celtic mythology reflects a broader truth about Scottish artistic identity. We are inheritors of both the European classical tradition and our own distinctive cultural narratives. The most compelling Scottish art, I believe, exists in the dialogue between these influences.
Why Mythology Matters to Contemporary Collectors
There's a reason mythology endures in serious art collecting. Unlike purely decorative work, pieces rooted in cultural narrative carry weight beyond their aesthetic appeal. They become conversation pieces in the truest sense not merely beautiful objects, but entry points into deeper discussions about heritage, identity, and the stories that define us.
When a collector acquires "Eternity of Legends," they're not simply purchasing an equine painting. They're acquiring a piece that connects to Scotland's ancient storytelling tradition, to contemporary public art discourse, and to the ongoing conversation about how classical technique remains relevant in contemporary practice.
The kelpie's transformation from dangerous water spirit to beloved national symbol mirrors Scotland's own evolution honouring tradition while embracing contemporary expression. In paint, as in mythology, the most powerful images are those that exist between worlds, classical yet contemporary, beautiful yet unsettling, grounded in tradition yet speaking to the present moment.
"Eternity of Legends (The Kelpies)" is available as a limited edition archival print, strictly limited to 25 examples worldwide. Each print is individually signed, numbered, and accompanied by a certificate of authenticity.
