HAVE you ever looked at a hunt map and wondered who painted it and how was it produced?

Well, Rosemary Coates is one of the most prolific illustrators in this specialist field. Rosemary has now executed over 30 individual country maps for hunts many of which are in Britain but a number also in Ireland. She also has illustrated maps covering the entire country of Hunts, Beagle packs and Racecourses of the UK and Ireland. Her hound portraits in oils have also become especially popular. One of her more unusual commissions was to complete a wall mural in her local pub, which has been much admired and appreciated.

Rosemary grew up in West Berkshire, hunting with the Garth and South Berks, and the Palmer Milburn Beagles as a child. She studied at the Ruskin School of Fine Art, here she found time to go out with the Christ Church and Farley Hill Beagles. After Oxford her parents moved briefly to Hampshire, to the village of Hannington where the Vine and Craven are kennelled. Many happy hours were spent drawing hounds there, “I am so grateful to the kennel staff who allowed me to go there and draw hounds.” She first travelled to Ireland as a child and regular visits since have often included hunting expeditions and painting commissions.

A commission for a hunt map includes a visit to the pack of hounds, detailed study of local maps and discussions on the intended pictorial content. The pictures surrounding the map will define the individuality of the hunt map and will often include historical and relevant landmarks, hounds and personalities. They are an ideal way for hunts to raise money through sales as well as an important reference for meets. They will often provide a talking point for visitors and hours of reminiscing of hunts on days past.

Rosemary has a positive ‘can do’ approach and her motto of ‘Have paint brush, will travel’ takes her to many places. Rosemary can be contacted by email at rosemaryhcoates@outlook.com