The story behind 'Shelter'

Roxy has written a story to accompany her latest work, a copy of which will be included with every purchase. “Stories and sculptures come hand-in-hand for me,” she explains. “Usually, a story develops as I'm sculpting and then sometimes as I've got an idea, it starts to play into the sculpture a bit more.

“With ‘Shelter’, I developed the story of the horse and the child. As a rider, there was something there in that relationship I could really relate to, so it came to life that little bit extra for me.

“Horses have always had a very special place in my heart. The bond between horse and rider is like no other and just being in their presence is a fulfilling and joyous experience. I grew up around horses and was lucky enough to experience this bond throughout my childhood, so I wanted to capture this in my work.”

After Roxy and her family moved to Yorkshire – her father is fellow sculptor Steve Winterburn – horses provided much-needed companionship. “Moving as a child is a daunting experience until new connections are made. Being around those horses, at that age, in a new place, was really important for me because before and after my move to Yorkshire, horses always offered me friendship – that’s sort of what’s happening for me in the first horse and child sculpture, and in the story.”

Roxy believes horses all have their own personalities, and that horse and rider become one when they are together. “When you’re out riding, there is complete trust between horse and rider which is very special,” something illustrated by the relationship between the horse and child in ‘Shelter’.