A HUGE selection of paintings by David Baird will be offered online, and at a final ‘live’ auction to raise funds for Irish Injured Jockeys and Killusty Pony Show.

Baird, who is based in Clonmel, Co Tipperary, is a highly talented artist who specialises in racing and equestrian sport.

A total of 138 pieces created by Baird will be offered in the auction which begins online next Friday, September 12th. The website address for the auction has yet to be confirmed. The paintings cover personalities and scenes from Irish racing, hunting, showing, eventing and even polo.

Bidding will close on Friday, October 12th when it is envisaged that bidding on the top 20 pieces will conclude with a ‘live’ auction at the Hotel Minella in Clonmel.

Baird writes on his website: “There was a time when I would only ever paint dogs and horses. I enjoyed solving the various colours, shapes, textures and getting a reasonable likeness and of course it helped to have a fondness for these animals. How can you not love horses?

“In July 2007, I went as usual to the local Clonmel Show, hoping to take a couple of photos that I may later use. The sun was shining, great light and the horses looked fantastic! It proved to be the inspiration for my work over the following 10 years.

“Racing appears to predominate although this wasn’t the original intention. Parade rings are a near perfect arena for what I now call “Artarazzi”. If horses are there to be seen, then so too are all those involved; owners, trainers, jockeys and stable hands and all within an almost intimate setting.

“I have always felt very fortunate to be working at the fringe of this fantastic equine industry in Ireland. Today, there can be few sports, professional or otherwise, where you can move freely among participants while they go about their business. All of life is there for me, an endless seam of moments.

“My hope in this collection was to capture the essence of the character in the individual I painted; caught in a moment, unaware, in their natural environment.”

Web: davidbairdart.com