Father and Son - by Michael Herring 500 Extra Large Piece Puzzle - 680mm x 485mm Box Dimensions - 410mm x 290mm x 50mm This extra large 500 piece jigsaw puzzle from the Gibsons puzzle catalog has been a popular puzzle for several years. The title, Father and Son, refers to the tradition of the farmer who passes on his farm to his son. Nowadays, and in order to maximise profits, most farms are operated by large companies owned by shareholders. The idea of working the land and handing it down through the generations is a thing of the past. It's not that all farmers can't wait to get away it's the hard life and the precarious livelihood that drives young families to consider a more stable means of earning a living. In our puzzle the farmer prepares for a hard day's work in the fields and leaves his son in charge. The boy has just milked the cow and in the background the farmer's wife feeds the geese. The water is drawn from a handpump and the cockerel, proudly keeping an eye on his roost, is about to be chased by the terrier. Michael Herring's life has been spent in the countryside, amongst farming communities. He was born in Watford, long before anyone even thought of building the M1 motorway. His parents' home backed onto open fields where football and cricket were played in between the cowpats. He climbed trees in the woods, explored the banks of the Grand Union Canal and fished and swam in the nearby river Coin. As soon as Michael's talent as an artist developed, it was always going to be the working countryside that he most enjoyed painting. His grandparents lived on a mixed farm, so cows, chickens, tractors and old farm buildings are vivid memories of his childhood. In 1985, Michael took the opportunity to turn professional. His paintings have been the subject of two one-man exhibitions and published both here and abroad, as limited edition prints, ornamental plates, table mats and jigsaw puzzles.
