Rosa Canina / The Dog Rose
Rebecca Thomas & Miss Roxy Dog
oils and gold leaf on linen
400 x 500 x 40 mm
2026
I suggested painting my friend Rebecca Thomas's portrait back in 2024/25.
A few months passed by then we decided to go for it. I needed a project to keep me going through the winter. We met up at Crackington Haven and I took loads of photos of Rebecca perched on a rock beside the sea with the cliffs behind her. I loved the idea of setting Rebecca in a romantic Cornish scene like a siren!
Since last October (2025) I have spent months trying to capture Rebecca's likeness but frustratingly it just wouldn't work out. Usually, once I manage to capture the sitter's eyes the rest of a portrait follows smoothly. However, I just couldn't capture her eyes. After six paintings in, all now destroyed... I picked up a 50 x 40 cm prepared canvas I had leaning against a wall in the studio and began almost automatically sketching in Rebecca from a photo where she is cuddling Roxy in her arms.
It immediately started to "click" and I realised the whole problem had been that I had been trying too hard to please Rebecca rather than just letting go and seeing where it went & painting freely, pleasing me!
I abandoned the scene at Crackington Haven and a whole narrative dictated itself. I was in a groove and the painting almost created itself all within a few weeks.
It's oils on linen with added gold leaf. I had discussed with Rebecca about depicting her with a nod to Gustav Klimt's portraiture etc., ie using gold leaf ( which can be so dangerous when over-doing it and yet when successful can suggest sunshine ).
I also wanted to combine turquoise and gold to suggest a majestic tone & thinking about Egyptian Art actually... In 1972, I was fortunate enough to visit with my school an exhibition at the British Museum in London of Tutankhamen's grave goods.
I was utterly spellbound by Tutankhamen's exquisite gold and turquoise mask. It left an indelible memory.
Rosa Canina will be reproduced at JSB's Foxer Fine Art marquee (as a greeting card) and as an exclusive fine art print, printed on high quality canvas that resembles an actual painting & framed. This is the only 1 (of 2 prints) available, the original oil painting resides in a private collection.
