British Hunting Large Farmed Oil Painting Title "Berkeley Goblin” Pack of Foxhounds, Berkeley Hunt by Vicky Palmer

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Description

Hunting Sporting Oil Masterpiece
Title of this work: “Berkeley Goblin”
Pack of Foxhounds, Berkeley Hunt
Large Contemporary British Painting by … Read more Hunting Sporting Oil Masterpiece
Title of this work: “Berkeley Goblin”
Pack of Foxhounds, Berkeley Hunt
Large Contemporary British Painting by Vicky Palmer
Subject & Medium
Oil on canvas. This striking large-scale contemporary British sporting realism painting by Vicky Palmer depicts a powerful pack portrait of four English foxhounds of the Berkeley Hunt, shown in intense side profile, all focused sharply to the right as if locked onto a scent. The hounds are set against a restrained, neutral ground that gives the work a clean, architectural presence and strong interior impact. Executed with exceptional realism and sensitivity, the painting combines traditional British sporting subject matter with a contemporary gallery-style presentation, making it equally suited to classic country-house interiors or modern architectural spaces.
Composition & Technique
Palmer uses a close-cropped composition that places the viewer directly within the pack:
The heads and shoulders dominate the canvas, creating scale, immediacy, and power
The simplified background isolates the forms, allowing the hounds to read almost like sculpture
Anatomy and coat textures are handled with accuracy and subtlety, with fine transitions of fur, skin, and light
Overlapping forms create rhythm and unity, reinforcing the pack dynamic
The painting reads strongly from across a room and rewards close inspection with detailed realism
About the Artist – Vicky Palmer
Vicky Palmer is a well-established British contemporary animal and sporting artist, particularly known for hounds, dogs, livestock, and rural animal subjects. She trained in the South West of England and later worked as a graphic designer before committing full-time to fine art. Now based in the Wiltshire countryside, she draws daily inspiration from rural life and working animals.
Career highlights associated with the artist include:
Works in oil and acrylic
Winner of the Trilogy Award from the Society of Women Artists
Exhibits in London and Wiltshire, and at Country Life and animal art fairs
Works held in private collections, including by Alan Titchmarsh and Lady McAlpine
Sold via galleries and auction houses in the UK and internationally
Her distinctive style often removes animals from their usual environment and places them into simplified or neutral settings, creating a modern, gallery-led aesthetic while retaining traditional draftsmanship and realism.
About the Berkeley Hunt
The Berkeley Hunt is one of England’s oldest and most historically important foxhound packs, based in Gloucestershire. Hounds have been kept at Berkeley Castle since the 12th century, originally for stag and buck, and since the 18th century for foxhunting. The hunt’s country lies between Gloucester and Bristol and includes both hill country and the Vale of Berkeley.
Historical & Artistic Significance
This painting sits within the great tradition of British sporting and animal art, yet feels distinctly contemporary. The subject is classic hunt portraiture, but the neutral, simplified setting and modern cropping create a museum-like presence that works in both traditional and modern interiors. Large, high-quality contemporary hound paintings connected to historic packs such as Berkeley remain increasingly sought after by collectors and decorators.
Signature
Signed by the artist Vicky Palmer (visible on the front).
Label verso: “Vicky Palmer Fine Art – Berkeley Goblin”.
Framing
Presented in a high-quality contemporary white wood frame, professionally assembled using conservation materials. Verso labels present from Whitewall / DeMontfort / Clarendon Galleries.
Size
Framed size: 117 cm high x 117 cm wide x 4.5 cm deep.
A true statement-scale piece.
Provenance
Artist’s studio label verso
Subsequently sold via a Greater London (Ruislip) auction, Adam Partridge, Lot 193, 2024
In the collection of Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD
Exhibition History
While no specific exhibition label is attached to this individual painting, the artist is widely described as a regular exhibitor with the Society of Women Artists, in London and Wiltshire galleries, and at Country Life and animal art fairs. The professional framing and presentation are consistent with exhibited gallery works by the artist.
Why You’ll Love It
✅ True statement size that transforms a wall instantly
✅ Museum-style contemporary presentation with strong architectural impact
✅ Beautifully observed, high-realism foxhound portraiture
✅ Powerful sense of tension and focus “on scent”
✅ Connected to one of England’s most historic hunts, the Berkeley Hunt
✅ Works equally well in classic country-house interiors and modern spaces
✅ Professionally framed and ready to hang See less