LOCAL artist Jessica Owen paints her pet sheep in vibrant rainbow colours and believes that her colourful method deters foxes and dogs.

Her sheep, that graze on the family farm in Aberporth, have never been attacked and they’ve never been bothered by vermin.

Her painting, which doesn’t harm the sheep in anyway, has become more than a way of deterring attackers - it has also become an important part of her artistic work.

“I have always loved vibrant colour, art and craft. I find the full spectrum of the rainbow somehow satisfying and emotive and my sheep, some of which I’ve named -

Ceindeg, Sian, Esyllt, Lleucu, Heulwen, Hafwen, Ceinwen, Sion, Llinos, Hefin, Huw, Llyr, Elis, Elliw - all stand out,” said Jessica, who owns up to 50 animals in her flock.

It all started in 2010, when Jessica took on her first ‘swci’ lamb, fell in love with her and from there the flock grew and she now keeps Welsh Mountain, Suffolk and Grey Faced Dartmoors.

Her brother and father then acquired some sheep and Jessica needed a marking system so that they could tell her sheep apart from theirs.

“It wasn’t really an issue for me but we needed to mark the sheep to denote which ewes a ram had served or to differentiate ewes with single lambs and those with twins. This is usually done using a single colour or maybe a couple of colours,” said

Jessica.

Her method of colouring her sheep is very unique, and it is believed that she is the only rainbow sheep artist in the area, possibly Wales and further afield.

“I’ve not yet come across anyone else who marks their flock the way I do. I decided to use every colour of the rainbow and then over time experimented with rainbow

fringes, tails, star shapes and a Welsh dragon. The sheep don’t mind – my rams

in particular love any attention!”

The law degree graduate added: “My sheep have their own personality, some

bold, some shy, some gentle and calm, some more boisterous. They each have Welsh names and are aware of their name, coming when I call them. Sheep are

actually quite intelligent.”

Jessica now uses her rainbow coloured sheep in many of her art works and

has exhibited with the Cardigan Art Society, Celf Canolabrth Cymru and the

Ceredigion Art Trail.

“I have always loved colour, art and craft. It was only after education that I looked into abstract painting and was drawn to how it would enable me to focus more on

colour rather than trying to replicate a certain form,” said Jessica.

“In 2014, I decided to take what was my hobby, further. I now paint and sell abstract paintings, using lots of vibrant colours. I love using gravity in the creation process.

“I don’t use any paint brushes, I pour and manipulate paint with various utensils onto canvases and allow gravity to pull the paint over the edges.

“I also make use of centrifugal force via my spin machine and I even allow paint to fall from a height, from a swing.”

July 2018, will see Jessica achieving gallery representation in Bristol where she will host her first solo exhibition.