Colourful cows have been sighted across Surrey recently and an artist and schoolchildren from Epsom partly responsible.

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Epsom's Alison Saunders, 54, (pictured above) was one of the artists chosen to contribute to this year’s Surrey CowParade – a county-wide exhibition of vibrantly decorated fibre glass cows.

A smaller cow – affectionately nicknamed ‘Bella Sunshine’ – has also been decorated by children and staff from Auriol Junior School in Vale Road, Epsom, as part of the exhibition.

Painted cows have already started grazing across Surrey and more will join the scattered herd over the summer.

At the end of the exhibition, the cows will be auctioned off to raise money for local community projects and a number of charitable causes.

The CowParade is an international public art exhibition that has been on display in Zurich, Switzerland, Tijuana, Mexico, Lima, Peru and Manchester.

Ms Saunders first became aware of the parade while living in Chicago, USA with her husband, where the CowParade is held every year.

It was also in Chicago that she first started learning to paint and nurture her artistic talent.

She moved to the Windy City in 2006 with her husband and, unable to work in the United States, took art classes and eventually began making money selling paintings.

Ms Saunders has since expanded her range of artistic abilities.

She explained: “I’m a mixed media artist. If it is out there I will use it.

“I do lino printing, watercolour, I work in wax.

“I strongly believe that as an artist it is your job to keep on learning and exploring, so that is what I do.

“But painting on the surface of a fibreglass cow was a challenge.

“Some colours took seven coats because they were so translucent.”

Ms Saunders’ cow – painted with brightly-coloured patterns – is on display at the NaviSite estate in East Molesey.

She added: “One of the things I do are all these elaborate ZenTangles. It is quite a therapeutic thing to do.

“It is very meditative when you can sit in an evening and do that, drawing these repetitive patterns.

“I have been doing it possibly all my life.”

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Children at Auriol Junior School (pictured above), meanwhile, have decorated a smaller cow that is on display at the school

Kate Love, art leader at the school invited everyone in the school community – from pupils to teachers, from governors to caretakers – to contribute to the design.

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Fifteen children carefully stuck the name of everybody involved to the cow, which was also fitted with a cochlear implant and hearing aid, and decorated with a film reel of images related to the school.

Ms Love said: “Here at Auriol we are so thrilled to have taken part in the Surrey Hills Cow Parade.  

“We wanted the whole school to be involved in this unique opportunity and for each of us to feel ownership over our Mini Moo. 

“The whole process has generated such excitement and pride in Bella Sunshine and we really look forward to displaying her here at Auriol for the whole community to enjoy.”

For more information, visit http://www.cowparadesurreyhills.com/