Megan Payne Sold at Auction Prices

My love of the Australian rural landscape and all things bovine continues to grow. I love nothing more than to stand among my beauties and appreciate their different noses, ears, eyes and hair do’s - yes cows have their own, unique little tufts just between their ears.
I initially painted cows in a naive style and included their surroundings. As my work progressed and my love of cows grew I wanted to better express each individual cows personality. I decided to make them into pure portraits. I want the viewer to question if they are a photograph or painting.

By keeping the background neutral it is as if the cow has come into the studio for a photography sitting. I try to make them so each cows eyes follow you around the room, always keeping watch. As each painting takes quite some time to paint I have usually developed a kind of relationship with them, standing back at the end of each day to ensure I am best expressing their personalities. I paint in oil on both canvas and board.

If you have ever had anything to do with cattle, dairy or otherwise you will appreciate the simplicity of their names. My daughters and I deliberate over their names in both the paddock and on the canvas. When asked what I do “bovine portraiture” it invariably raises a few questions. Having always been obsessed with drawing, painting and creating I initially studied Dress Design at East Sydney Technical College. Since then I have raised my four daughters and gone on to study Fine Arts.
I currently divide my time between Sydney and our small farm on the Far South Coast of NSW.
I have been included in many group exhibitions My paintings are currently in private collections in Hong Kong, New York, Denmark and the UK.