Image 1 of 1
Image 1 of 1
Image 1 of 1
Image 1 of 1
60 x 50cm
Acrylic on canvas
June 2026
Eloise loves the Royal Meadow, the vast expanse of grassland stretching as far as the eye can see. It is rich with plants and insects of such variety that in three years she has not yet catalogued them all.
She and her father live at the King’s grace, in a tiny cottage, as he is the head gamekeeper. Eloise works long hours in the palace laundry, but next year she will go to the city university to study entomology and botany. Her observations on the rare scarlet painted caterpillar had won her a scholarship, the only girl to ever qualify. Her father had wept when the news came; proud, but already mourning his loss with her freedom.
Thundering hoof-beats in a dust cloud. Eloise looks up and groans. It is the young prince on his daily ride. Arrogant, cruel and a womaniser, his exploits are legend. They say his exasperated father has forced him to choose a wife or be disinherited. She pities the maiden saddled with him.
He surges past, mere feet away, then suddenly wheels around, stopping his horse in front of her.
‘You, girl. You are a pretty little thing. I will have you. We will see how father likes a peasant for a daughter-in-law.
Her heart goes cold as she is dragged up behind him. His horse trampling the flowers as they gallop away.
60 x 50cm
Acrylic on canvas
June 2026
Eloise loves the Royal Meadow, the vast expanse of grassland stretching as far as the eye can see. It is rich with plants and insects of such variety that in three years she has not yet catalogued them all.
She and her father live at the King’s grace, in a tiny cottage, as he is the head gamekeeper. Eloise works long hours in the palace laundry, but next year she will go to the city university to study entomology and botany. Her observations on the rare scarlet painted caterpillar had won her a scholarship, the only girl to ever qualify. Her father had wept when the news came; proud, but already mourning his loss with her freedom.
Thundering hoof-beats in a dust cloud. Eloise looks up and groans. It is the young prince on his daily ride. Arrogant, cruel and a womaniser, his exploits are legend. They say his exasperated father has forced him to choose a wife or be disinherited. She pities the maiden saddled with him.
He surges past, mere feet away, then suddenly wheels around, stopping his horse in front of her.
‘You, girl. You are a pretty little thing. I will have you. We will see how father likes a peasant for a daughter-in-law.
Her heart goes cold as she is dragged up behind him. His horse trampling the flowers as they gallop away.