Planting Seedlings - Spring 1986

Artist Nigel Davison spent a short period in Ayrshire in the 1980s. The cottage which he occupied was surrounded by fields and the grazing cattle became his primary source of inspiration. It is likely that this picture records an incident when the artist's attempts to cultivate his small garden were frustrated by the long grasping tongue of a neighbouring cow pushing through the garden hedge.   In the 19th century the brown and white Ayrshire cow became the leading dairy breed in Scotland and at the same time received worldwide renown. By the second half of the 20th century the large black and white Friesian cow became the dominant dairy breed. The cow which is attempting to eat Nigel's seedling in the picture is likely to have been a Friesian dairy cow.