In Praise of Sheep: My Mountain Muses

The inclusion of sheep in my landscape work dates as far back as my early days as a photographer. From the very beginning, they posed unknowingly for me, scattered muses amongst the mountains and fields, adding something tangible to the vastness of their surroundings. Careful never to frighten them, I've always welcomed them onto my canvas and been thankful of their natural place in the landscape. Often just a small white ghost clinging to a distant mountain, other times the proud subject taking centre stage with corkscrew horns protruding from a shaggy head of wild wool.

They are the unsung heroes of the west of Ireland, sure-footed mountaineers climbing without fear of failure, four-footed matadors jumping ditches to avoid bumpers, the shy stars of a hundred thousand tourist snaps and all this before selflessly giving up their fleece to keep us warm in the winter. So, if I can immortalise just a few of them in my photography, it will be a little thank you to these brave creatures who have been my mountain muses for many years.