Why I Paint Australian Brumbies: A Childhood Love of The Silver Brumby and Horses
My love of horses began in childhood. I was captivated by their beauty, strength, and gentle spirit. To me, horses represented freedom—the freedom to run across open country, guided by instinct and connected to the natural world.
One of the stories that inspired this love was Elyne Mitchell’s The Silver Brumby. I was enchanted by the story of Thowra, the magnificent silver stallion who lived wild in the Australian mountains. His courage, intelligence, and determination to remain free stayed with me long after I finished reading.
The story helped shape the way I see Australian Brumbies today. They are more than beautiful animals. They represent resilience, survival and the untamed spirit of Australia.
The Spirit of the Australian Brumby
When I paint a Brumby, I try to capture more than its physical appearance. I want each painting to express the horse’s energy, emotion and soul.
Through expressive brushstrokes, light, colour and movement, I seek to portray the Brumby’s strength and sensitivity. Sometimes the horse appears powerful and courageous. At other times, it is quiet and watchful, standing peacefully within the landscape.
Each painting develops intuitively. I begin with an idea or feeling, but I also allow the horse’s character to emerge naturally as I work. There is often a moment when the painting seems to come alive, and the spirit of the horse begins to look back at me from the canvas.
A Symbol of Freedom and Resilience
Australian Brumbies have survived in rugged landscapes for generations. Their strength and adaptability make them powerful symbols of endurance.
For me, they also carry a spiritual meaning. They remind us to trust our instincts, remain true to ourselves, and continue moving forward through life’s challenges. Their wildness speaks to the part of us that longs to live with greater courage, freedom and authenticity.
Painting Brumbies allows me to honour this spirit while returning to the sense of wonder I felt as a child reading The Silver Brumby. That childhood connection has never left me. It has simply grown into a deeper love and respect for horses, the Australian landscape and the stories held within them.
Bringing Their Stories to Life
The Brumby paintings that I created are for everyone who feels this same connection—to horses, freedom, nature, and the deeper spiritual meaning found within animals.
Through my artwork, I hope to create a moment of connection between the viewer and the horse. I want people to feel the movement of the herd, the stillness of the mountains and the quiet strength within the Brumby’s eyes.
Every Australian Brumby I paint carries a little of that childhood magic—the silver horse running freely across the mountains and the belief that something wild and beautiful should never be forgotten.
If you feel drawn to the spirit of the Australian Brumby, I invite you to explore my available original artworks and commissions. I can also create a personalised equine painting to honour a much-loved horse or bring the beauty and energy of these remarkable animals into your home.
Deborah Robbs
Equine, Landscape, Spiritual Artist
The Divine Art of Healing
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