Flock star moves: keep up to the bleat at the Royal Highland Show
The Golden Shears World Sheep Shearing & Woolhandling Championships is returning to the Royal Highland Show in June after 20 years.
Held in the MacRobert Theatre, more than 35 countries from across the world will battle it out to see who is the fastest sheep shearer and who has the best woolhandling technique.
The highly-anticipated event will feature 39 decorated sheep sculptures that are currently on tour across Scotland in the Flock to the Show public art trail.
The Scotsman is the media partner for both events and the Royal Highland Show is held from 22 to 25 June.
Visit the website at royalhighlandshow.org
Meet the artist
Jayne Schofield is a full-time freelance children’s illustrator living in Lancashire with her husband, son, and tabby cat Olly.
After gaining a degree in illustration, she was employed as a children’s designer, working for companies such as Royal Doulton, Lilliput Lane and Jumpers, before embarking on a freelance career.
The artist now works from her studio overlooking her garden, which provides inspiration for her artworks.
Jayne says: “The inspiration for this design came from my love of knitting. I have a long history with this craft as my nana owned a wool shop where I would spend hours helping as a young girl.
“As a child, I would experiment with different wool blends and textures, and knit jumpers for friends and family.
“This design is a nod to the Scottish wool industry which supplies the most amazing array of yarns, making it my choice when designing my next piece.”
The Woolly Sheep
The Woolly Sheep by Jayne Schofield highlights the lack of succession planning in Scottish farming, which could have significant effects on the future of the industry north of the Border.
It may lead to a decline in the number of farms, a loss of skills and knowledge, and a potential decrease in productivity and competitiveness.
It could also have broader economic and social impacts, such as rural depopulation, and may result in Scotland relying more heavily on imported farm produce.
Additionally, it could limit opportunities for innovation and adaptation to changing consumer demands and environmental pressures.
Find your fleece
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