“Ruby of the Canal” — Portrait of a Working Heavy Horse
Original Oil Pastel by Ms Bella St John.
Ruby, the gentle giant of the Tiverton Canal, is more than a horse – she’s a living link to Britain’s past. One of the last remaining heavy horses still working on the canals, Ruby faithfully pulls the horse-drawn barge along the Tiverton Canal in Devon, offering visitors a rare glimpse into a quieter, slower time.
This oil pastel portrait captures both Ruby’s immense strength and her calm, kind nature. The details of her harness, the weathered wooden railings, and the soft texture of her mane are lovingly rendered, honouring not just the horse herself, but the tradition she represents. Her head is lowered in a moment of rest, yet she remains alert – ever ready to walk the towpath once more.
“Ruby of the Canal” is a tribute to heritage, to working animals with noble hearts, and to the timeless beauty of Britain’s inland waterways.