Photos: Atmospheric shots of rare breeds

Student Claire Watson is documenting rare breeds of farm animals and poultry as part of her photography degree.

Leicester Longwool Sheep

“I have always been passionate about animals, so when I became interested in photography I decided to combine the two to specialise in animal portraiture,” she says.

Golden Guernsey Goat

Her aim in the final-year work, which has also seen her conduct interviews with rare breed owners and commercial farmers, is to document breeds, creating a visual archive and aid understanding of why rare breeds should be sustained.

Balwen Welsh Mountain Sheep

See also: How a dairy farm diversified into an artist’s muse 

Claire has captured the images in a natural environment and as studio portraits – photographing a range, including a Suffolk Punch horse, a Scott Dumpy Bantam chicken and a Balwen Welsh Mountain sheep.

Native Aberdeen Angus

“Hopefully these atmospheric, artistic, classical portraits of these animals will emphasise their beauty and noble presence to a wider audience. I want the direct gazes of these animals to inspire people and encourage them to help protect and conserve rare breeds for the future.”

Scott Dumpy Bantam

Find more information about the work and where it can be seen