For Lucy Boydell, encountering the Konik ponies amongst the dunes of the Holkham Estate was a truly uplifting and invigorating experience. Along one of her favourite coastal paths, sightings are never guaranteed. When they do appear, the semi-wild ponies are often far too busy galloping, grazing and exploring the landscape to stand still. Lucy had always been drawn to their dusty blue-dun coats, darker faces and streaked manes, knowing they would make compelling subjects in charcoal. She wanted, however, to observe them more closely and study their strong, distinctive features.

Walking between the dunes and woodland, she caught glimpses of a quartet moving across the landscape cutting sculptural shapes against the skyline, pausing to scent the air as the sea breeze lifted their manes, before suddenly bucking and racing onwards out of sight. Their independence was captivating. One particularly elegant pony captured Lucy's attention that day. Aloof and full of presence, she was especially drawn to the way the sunlight fell across its mane. With thanks to Jake and Andrew at the Holkham Estate for enabling Lucy to study the ponies at close range and experience the Konik story more deeply, an encounter rich in movement, character, texture and light, all of which would find their way into her drawings.