I will be painting a cow on a 90 x 60 cm stretched canvas and donating it to RABI for their charity auction to help them raise vital funds. The auction is due to take place 16th December 2025 and on this page I will be keeping you updated with my painting progress, as well as details on how you can get involved.
Who are Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution (RABI)?
Founded in 1860 RABI is a charity that provides support to farming families who are experiencing hardship.
It also provides practical and emotional support, including mental health services and training.
It offers financial assistance for things like bills and debt advice.
On their website they explain:
“RABI continues to work tirelessly to uplift and support farming people through practical, financial and emotional assistance, touching the lives of thousands of people every year.
At the core of RABI’s mission is the commitment to address the individual needs of farming people. We offer one-to-one, expert support, advice and guidance, tailored to every unique circumstance. Whether it’s giving expert advice on benefits potentially available to farming people or accessing mental health support, RABI offers a beacon of hope.”
Why I Am Supporting RABI
As a girl who grew up in Somerset I was surrounded by fields and therefore the farming community. This was great for me as I am an animal lover and this gave me the opportunity to get closer to nature.
Farmers have a huge responsibility to care for their live stock, giving them the best opportunity to thrive, as well as maintaining high standards for the food industry. All of these takes time, money and dedication to achieve. However, there are many factors which farmers have to battle with everyday that can increase the immense pressure which is already upon them. These pressures include:
Aging workforce: Many farmers continue to work into older age, facing physical challenges and the need for independent living support.
Volatile conditions: Extreme weather, animal disease, and market fluctuations create financial uncertainty that can last for years.
Serious incidents: Illness, injury, accidents, or bereavement can suddenly bring hardship to a farming family.
Mental health challenges: The isolation, financial pressures, and long hours can take a toll on mental health. The farming community has a lower average mental well-being than the general UK population.
Progress Updates
I’m still working on this and there’s still plenty to do, but hopefully this gives you a good indication of what is coming. It’s a stretched canvas that is 90 cm tall and 60 cm wide. Depicted is a Friesian cow and has a metallic gold background.
How You Can Get Involved
A dedicated website is currently being created which will give you details on how you can purchase tickets to attend the auction, all the items that are being featured that day and how you can commit to a preauction bid if you cannot attend but still want to support the event.