Cheltenham artist

Emily Johnson on the wow factor of working at the capital ofjump racing as artist-in-residence, her obsession with anatomy and messy mishaps

-  Xander Brett

I grew up in an Eastbourne townhouse, where I had friends with horses, and took riding lessons when I was 12. My parents didn't have much money and, one day, realising my equine passion was here to stay, I asked my mum if I could have a horse of my own. "Of course, darling!" she replied, "you just need to save up and buy one for yourself."

Well, it took me two or three years, working in a burger bar each evening after school, but eventually I had enough cash to buy Molly, who came from Ireland, and is what I'd describe as a "sports cob". I was 16 when I met Molly, and she was five - we're now 33 and 23, and she still pulls my arms out careering round the Forest of Dean.

Later I moved up to Gloucestershire (with Molly) to study at Hartpury.  Initially after leaving college, I wasn't sure what to do, so I worked on a farm. I began drawing in my spare time, but before long it had consumed me and I had to decide whether I wanted to pursue it as a career. I made the leap around five years ago, recently retraining in oil painting, specialising in horses.