During the 2024 All Nations Cup, the ANC Committee presented the Lifetime Achievement Award to painter and writer Peter Upton, who has devoted himself to his main subject, the Arabian horse, for more than 65 years. Without exaggeration, he is one of Britain’s leading horse painters and writers.
He was born in Dulwich, south London, in 1937 and his artistic streak is no coincidence, as his mother Rachel Cain was an artist and his uncle Charles W. Cain was a well-known etcher who travelled around Arabia in the 1920s. Peter Upton then studied art and art history at college – the artists he most admires are Stubbs, Munnings, Edwards, Sorolla and the Pre-Raphaelites – but he received his main education from his uncle. Both his twin brother Roger and himself had an affinity with the Arab world. His brother was a well-known falconer, while Peter studied the Arabian horse and became a recognized expert on the history of the Arabian horse. He is the author of Desert Heritage: An Artist’s Collection of Blunt’s Original Arab Horses (1980), The Classic Arab Horse (1986), The Arab Horse (1992), The Arabian Horse – History, Mystery and Magic (1998), Out of the Desert (2010) and Royal Heritage – The Story of Jordan’s Arab Horses, co-authored with Princess Alia Al Hussein (2011).
His paintings are highly sought after and are held in private collections, including royal collections in the Arab countries. They often sell for low to mid five-figure sums. They are mostly watercolors, and he is most famous for his Arabian horses in desert environments. He has also “recreated” famous foundation horses for his books from old photographs. He always carries his sketchbook and a pencil or pen with him and it is fascinating how easily he sketches any scene – with his left hand!
He was twice President of the Arab Horse Society of Great Britain and an international judge. In fact, he was with ECAHO from the beginning and the ECAHO logo is his hand. For many years he was a board member of ECAHO and later an instructor for the judges, using his drawings in his classes. He travelled the world, but especially the Middle East – not only as a judge but also to learn about the history of the Arabian horse from the elders; he still passes on his knowledge today in courses and lectures.
Long may his love of painting and writing and of the Arabian horse continue!
Quicklinks
Oct 05 2024
