PICTURES: Mural of iconic Sam Smith's brewery horses wows North Yorkshire town
Claire proudly shows off her stunning work (Image: David Lindsay)
A mural of Samuel Smith’s Brewery’s iconic shire horses is wowing Tadcaster.
The stunning paintings are on the frontage of a brewery-owned shop unit in Kirkgate, barely a stone’s throw from the brewery and the newly-opened Angel and White Horse Inn.
The mural has been created by Tadcaster artist Claire Bentley-Smith partly as a tribute to the late Humphrey Smith and partly as a way to promote art in Tadcaster, including its upcoming Tadcaster Creates Festival.
Claire has previously worked as a commercial artist in Leeds but during the pandemic, the work dried up and she moved to Tadcaster and “went back to painting horses, which is my passion.”
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In recent years, Claire became involved in art projects in the town, working with retailer Tadcraft and setting up Tadcaster Creates, a community-led festival, which aims to bring art and creativity into the centre of the town.
Claire at work on Prince
(Image: David Lindsay)
Samuel Smith’s Brewery gave Claire permission to paint the mural on the frontage of the empty shop and she sent the brewery an artist’s impression of what her work would look like.
Claire said: “I’m a big fan of the shire horses. They go past my house when they deliver their beer. It’s an absolute privilege to have them in the town and I wanted to honour them.”
“We started this project before Mr Smith passed but it’s partly a memorial to him. He was a big supporter of the shire horses.”
The horses in all their glory
(Image: David Lindsay)
The brewery’s stable manager Simon Crook, who looks after the shire horses, wanted the mural to feature the horses Prince and Falcon. It has since been photographed by professional photographer David Lindsay.
Claire has done the work voluntarily.
She told the Press: “I wanted to say something, to promote Tadcaster Creates. We wanted to do something to get tongues wagging. The reception has been overwhelming.”
Falcon is one of two horses featured in the murals.
(Image: David Lindsay)
“Sam Smith’s Brewery has released a letter to say they want to do exciting things. The whole town feels like a page has been turned. I have heard so many lovely stories from locals about how they feel about things.”
One woman, she says was tearful talking to her about the murals.
Claire continued: “Artists are in a position to inspire an emotional response from people. If I can do something like this for free, to start the ball rolling, towards a renaissance. There’s a real feeling of optimism.”
Prince is one of two shire horses featured in the mural.
(Image: David Lindsay)
Other art projects in Tadcaster are planned, including Claire working with Maude Smith (Humphrey’s daughter) to create another mural at 21 The High Street, Tadcaster, a bar and eatery.
Claire said: We are also going to be painting a few shop windows. There’s lots of things going on.”
Claire added publicity over the shire horses has given a boost to her Bentleyinthefield.com website and social media presence.
She urges people to check out the Totally Locally Tadcaster website and Facebook page, for details of the next Tadcaster Creates Festival, which runs during September 3-6.
What do you think of the mural? What other arts projects would you like to see in Tadcaster? Share your thoughts in the comments below.