One limited edition of eight archival pigment prints, otherwise known as a giclée print.  Signed, named and numbered by the artist in pencil in the bottom border.

Giclée involves the use of specialist large format printers, archival pigment inks and museum-grade Hahnemuhle 290gsm fine art papers; the combination of which produces prints of exceptional quality and longevity.

Archival framing using hand picked Tassie Oak is an additional option. This piece is approximately 96cm x 76cm framed.

Please contact Sarah M:0447 979 262 if this of interest to you. 

OR

For enquiries about the original Graphite and watercolour on Saunders Waterford 300gsm paper. 

PDSA Dickin Medal recipient Rob | Collie

Date of award: 22 January 1945 | Special Air Service

For his part in landings during North African Campaign with an Infantry unit and later serving with a Special Air Unit in Italy as patrol and guard on small detachments lying-up in enemy territory. His presence with these parties saved many of them from discovery and subsequent capture or destruction. Rob made countless parachute descents.

Rob was bought as a puppy from Colemere Farm near Ellesmere in Shropshire in 1939 for five shillings. He lived his early years with a baby boy, Basil Bayne - who later moved to Northern Ireland with his family. 

The Baynes resided in nearby Tetchill and Rob was their farm dog and pet. A very young Basil learnt to walk by holding onto Rob’s tail or clutching his coat and, if he was crying, Rob would put his front paws up on the pram, sooth him and make him laugh.

In 1942, Rob’s owners volunteered him as a War Dog and he was signed up on 19 May that year. Following action in the North Africa campaign, from September 1943, Rob served with the Special Air Service Regiment (SAS), the first war dog to do so.

With the regiment, he took part in operations in Italy, parachuting in on sabotage missions.

Basil recalled: “Following his wartime exploits, Rob was returned to us and settled back into life on the farm, occasionally making public appearances to help raise funds for returning Prisoners of War and their families.

He mostly enjoyed hunting rabbits with his companion, the Bayne’s other dog Judy, a spaniel.

At the time of receiving the award, Rob’s owner Edward Bayne (Basil’s father) told the Oban Times how caring he had been as a farm dog: ‘He used to help settle the chicks in their houses at night, picking them up in his mouth when they had strayed away - he had a wonderful mouth - and tucking them in under their mothers’, he remarked.

As viewed on the Peoples Dispensary for Sick Animals website, 11/04/2023 < https://www.pdsa.org.uk/what-we-do/animal-awards-programme/pdsa-dickin-medal> and various conversations and sources.

If you have any dog stories, please get in touch.