During my first residency at the Ballinglen Foundation for Art in Spring 2015, I was drawn to the beauty of sheep and cattle in the dramatically undulating landscape. I began a series of animal-themed work and Lamb is the first small sculpture in this series. It was based on a lamb I saw in a field, carved from linden wood, and polychromed with layers of transparent oil paints. Since then my interest has expanded: I’m fascinated by the agrarian culture of the region, the breeding of different types of livestock, and their place in the landscape, as well as the diverse native and migrating birds of Western Ireland. The relationship between humans and animals is of particular interest. My goal is to convey – through the sensuous forms of carved-wood sculpture and mixed-media drawing – some of the raw beauty around me in the world that I am stitched into.   - Susan Hagen