Artist, horsewoman and lifelong hunt supporter Diane Marshall has united art and the hunting field in a moving new project. Inspired by photographer Bryan Pye’s cancer battle and the strength of the hunting community, it is also raising important funds for the Countryside Alliance and British Hound Sports Association’s joint campaign, Future for Hunting.
For Diane Marshall, the worlds of hunting and art came together in a project that celebrates the bonds between humans and horses. After personal losses - her mother died suddenly in a car accident, and her father passed 10 years later - she returned to the family farm, where her daughter got a pony and joined the local Pony Club. Soon after, Diane also started riding again and, as she recalls, “A friend said my horse was too good for just hacking, so I got back into hunting.” Soon, her husband joined, and the three of them shared in the joy and challenge of the field, trail hunting for over a dozen seasons.
Around the same time, her long-dormant talent for painting resurfaced. Having studied art at O-level, she was encouraged by friends to take it up again, which led her to paint her own horse.
“I posted it on Facebook, and the response was incredible. Soon people were commissioning work,” explained Diane, whose art has drawn inspiration from the horses and hounds she rides and hunts with, blending experience with observation.
Now, her latest project carries even deeper significance. Photographer Bry Pye, who has chronicled hunting for years, has been fighting cancer for three years. During a heartfelt encounter at Burton Ladies’ Day in November, he confided how much hunting and the community around it had kept him going through treatments.
As Bry explains:
“I was diagnosed with bowel cancer in June 2023. After the operation I was given the all-clear; however, two scans later I was told it had spread to my lungs and was inoperable, so I started palliative care. During all these times, the one thing that kept me going and being positive was my time spent with hounds - both at the kennels and following the trail. My saying is ‘onwards and upwards with the hounds.’ I have had amazing help from all hunt followers and made some great friends along the way. I had the idea along with Di to come up with the idea of Hear Our Voice, which is a voice for every hound in the country.”
Seeing one of his photographs displayed online inspired Diane’s next painting. “I suggested I paint it for Bry, to support the hunting community and the challenges it is facing. He immediately agreed,” she recalls.
“We are hugely grateful to Diane for her generosity and steadfast support for the Future for Hunting campaign. Bry’s experience is a powerful reminder that hunting is about far more than a day in the field - it is a community that provides friendship, resilience and a vital support network to people right across the country. In the most challenging times, that community stands shoulder to shoulder and this initiative is a testament to that enduring spirit.”
The painting is more than art; it is a tribute to Bry’s dedication, his eye for the field, and the comfort that hunting brings to so many. It also embodies the strength of the hunting community itself - a network of people bound together by shared passion, tradition and support through life’s challenges.
The piece is being auctioned online, with proceeds going to Future for Hunting, which is campaigning to ensure that the hounds and the community Bry has captured for years can continue to thrive. Limited edition prints will also be available, allowing enthusiasts nationwide to engage with the project.
“This isn’t just about paintings or horses - it’s about community, resilience, and keeping traditions alive,” Diane explains. For Bry Pye, the collaboration is both a tribute and a source of hope, showing how hunting, art and friendship can bring people together through difficult times.
To support this cause and get your hands on a wonderful painting follow this link www.jumblebee.co.uk/hearourvoice. The auction closes on Sunday 15 March at 10pm.