Description
Palace House Stables, Newmarket, was the oldest, still operating, training stables in Britain, perhaps the world, when I painted this in 1984. It was set up by King Charles ll in 1671 and continued until Bruce Hobbs, the last trainer moved out in 1985. Mr Hobbs allowed me to paint at the stables when I was preparing for my one man show at the Jockey Club in Newmarket. I was the first living artist to show there.
This is one of the paintings I made for that show. The head lad is wiping down the trainer’s hack after morning exercises on Newmarket Heath.
Nell Gwynn’s house, a gift from Charles ll, was right next door