Ginger Highland Cow in Purple Heather Paint by Numbers

Ginger Highland Cow Paint by Numbers Kit: Burnt Orange Fur in Purple Heather

This scene shows a ginger Highland cow resting on a grassy slope. Its long curved horns frame a thick fringe that falls over the eyes. The burnt orange fur stands out against the sage green grass, and clusters of heather purple flowers cover the hills around it. Further back, slate grey and misty purple hills fade into a cloudy sky lit by soft late summer daylight. Cream white highlights pick out the sky and the lightest parts of the coat. The whole painting uses thick impasto strokes, so the texture builds up on the canvas as you paint. We rate it intermediate: the sky and hills are medium areas that go quickly, while the fringe and heather flowers contain many small numbered sections. Allow around 12 to 30 hours depending on the size you choose. The square format fits a hallway or a living room wall, and it makes a gift for anyone who loves Scotland and its Highland cattle. We supply a printed linen canvas with numbered outlines, numbered acrylic paints, three brushes and a paper guide.

Tips for painting this design

Start with the slate grey and cream white areas of the cloudy sky, using the wide brush. Move down to the misty purple hills and the sage green slopes with the medium brush. Leave the burnt orange fur until the background layers are dry, so the edges of the cow stay crisp. Use the fine brush for the individual strands of the fringe and the curves of the horns. The 48 colour option helps on this design, because the impressionist style relies on many small shifts between heather purple, sage green and slate grey. Work from the top of the canvas downwards so your hand never rests on wet paint, and go slowly through the small numbered sections in the heather to keep the thick brushstroke effect clear.

If you enjoy Scottish subjects, our Scotland paint by numbers collection has more designs, and our Highland cow paint by numbers range gathers every cow in one place.

Sizes, colours and painting time

The design comes in 20x30 to 60x80 cm (9 sizes). You choose a 24, 36 or 48 colour kit, on rolled canvas, with a wooden frame to assemble or with the canvas already mounted on its frame (except in 50x70 and 60x80 cm, delivered rolled). Allow around 12 to 30 h depending on the size.

What's in the kit

• Canvas:Linen canvas with the outlines and numbers of the cow, the heather and the hills already printed.
• Paint:Numbered acrylic paints, ready to use, covering the burnt orange, heather purple, sage green, slate grey and cream white shades. You choose 24, 36 or 48 colours.
• Brushes:Three brushes: fine for the fringe and horns, medium for the heather flowers, wide for the cloudy sky.
• Guide:A paper guide lets you check the finished layout as you work.
• Optional:A wooden frame to assemble keeps the square canvas stretched while you paint. You can also choose it already mounted on its frame, ready to hang.

Living roomChild's bedroomHallwayBedroomHome office

Without frame

The canvas arrives rolled in a tube. You paint it flat and frame it afterwards if you wish.

With frame

Wooden stretcher bars to assemble stretch the canvas. You paint on a taut surface and hang the picture on the wall.

Mounted canvas

The canvas arrives already stretched on its wooden frame. You start painting right away and hang the picture on the wall.