CONGRATULATIONS to Irish equestrian artist Sara Hodson who was recently elected a full member of the British Society of Equestrian Artists (SEA) after presenting a portfolio of her work at the National Heritage centre for Horse Racing and Sporting Art in Newmarket.

Sara has been a member of the society for nine years, joining as a friend initially before being promoted to an associate in 2011. She is the first Irish Equestrian artist to be elected a full member of the society.

Sara works from her studio in Reenascreena, West Cork and was recently commissioned to paint Irish 2000 Guineas winner Awtaad for Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum in Dubai.

She will be exhibiting with the SEA at the Palace House in Newmarket July 10th-16th and you can also see her work this summer in the Aisling Gallery, Ballydehob, West Cork 16 June-3rd July.

To view or commission a painting go to www.sarahodson.com.

Kate McGowan pictured at the recent Kildare Village Racing Colours Awards, which saw the NCAD graduate receive first prize for her design of an iconic international racing colours jacket. This competition outlined a brief for undergraduate and recent graduate fashion design students from NCAD, LSAD, Griffith College and Ulster University to create a contemporary interpretation of racing silks. The competition marked a new collaboration between Kildare Village and the Curragh Racecourse for the 2017 flat season.