A new exhibition of the work of artist Nichola Eddery, the National Horseracing Museums resident artist, opens on 16th June at the Osborne Studio Gallery. Entitled ’Silks, Horses and Hounds’ it will be Nichola’s fifth solo show and her first for nine years and draws inspiration from classical sculpture, great sporting artists of the past and her own family’s long history in racing to create a style that is uniquely her own.
The opening of the exhibition coincides with Royal Ascot week and among the 25 original works on show are Nichola’s stunning depictions of jockeys wearing the silks of some of racing’s leading owners, together with beautiful new paintings of dogs and pieces inspired by her surroundings in Newmarket.
Descended from a long line of jockeys and trainers dating back three generations on both sides of her family, most famously her father, former champion jockey, Pat Eddery, Nichola has further immersed herself in the Sport of Kings through her role as artist in residence at the National Horseracing Museum in the centre of Newmarket.
Her studio at the museum looks out on to the courtyard of the historic Rothschild Yard, now home to former racehorses, and is just metres away from Palace House, home to one of the finest collections of British sporting art.
Of her appointment, Nichola Eddery said: “I’ve been artist in residence at the museum for a year and a half now and it’s been an amazing experience. You could not ask for a better studio; it’s view on to the Rothschild Yard is heavenly and then you’ve got Palace House and its incredible collection.
“Being in Newmarket, I became even more aware of my family’s own history and I was inspired to start painting the jockeys and silks series. Fortunately for me, the jockeys James Doyle, Jamie Spencer, Colm O’Donoghue and Ryan Moore all kindly agreed to pose for me, and I thought when do you get that kind of opportunity?
“I was classically trained and I have always been drawn to classical themes. The series of jockeys in their silks was inspired by Hellenistic sculptures, such as the Parthenon sculptures at the British Museum. Although the pieces are fragmented and often part of a wider design, they are beautiful in their own right and that’s where I got the idea to paint the jockeys without the horses.”
The exhibition also features a series of paintings of sighthounds, a favourite breed of Nichola’s due to their athleticism and statuesque quality and for which again she was inspired by the past.
“These paintings were inspired by Edwin Landseer’s work, who captured dogs so beautifully and they are a slight departure as I had previously only exhibited a couple of narrative compositions featuring dogs. However, as they were well received, I wanted to explore doing more and I think you can still recognise my style in the new pieces.”
Located on Motcomb Street in Belgravia, the Osborne Studio Gallery exhibition ‘Silks, Horses and Hounds’ by Nichola Eddery runs from Monday 16th June through to Saturday 5th July 2025.
