From the Cheese Portraits series.

This raw milk clothbound cheddar is among the greatest out there. I first painted it long ago, at the beginning of this series. Since then though I've had the privilege to meet the maker, Tom Calver and visited Westcomb Dairy several times, thanks to the unique access being on amazing Cheese Journeys tours. Tom's is among the big four traditional cheddars still made in Somerset England. I chose a green background because when I think of Westcomb, I recall the beautiful lush grass and how Tom taught us about that being key to their extraordinary milk quality and the regenerative farming techniques are not only climate change resilient, but also cow friendly.


When I stopped in at Dibruno Bros the other day I didn’t expect to bring home cheddar but once offered a taste of this I suddenly remembered how great it is. I asked the monger, Ben, to cut me the thinnest wedge because this tasted like sunshine and I had an image in my head instantly, and whenever I have one of those moments, when the image flashes in my head as I taste a cheese, I just know the painting is going to be a lot of fun, as this one was. ☀️

Origin: UK, England

Availability: sold