Betsy LaMere
Living on a farm in rural Western New York, artist and photographer Betsy LaMere finds inspiration in
her surroundings, sharing with the viewer an intimate portrait of an otherwise private place. As a self-
taught artist, she has developed a unique and very distinctive style. Her appreciation for her equine
subjects and the art form of pen and ink drawing reflects in her work, revealing a close relationship
with and a deep sensitivity of the individual. This appreciation is also apparent in her photography.
Although she considers herself primarily an equine artist, Betsy’s photographic images express not
only her love of horses, but of all animals and nature; capturing the detail, emotion and personality of
her subjects, inviting us to discover the wonder of our own backyards.
Growing up in a suburb of Rochester, New York, LaMere was not raised with horses, yet yearned to
be. Stories of enduring friendships between horses and the people who loved them inspired her
imagination. At age nine, a visit with a friend to the barn where their family kept two horses was the
first real encounter she had had, and the smell that lingered in the pair of mittens she wore that day
comforted a longing deep within. When her desires to ride went unanswered by her parents, she
worked and saved her money, eventually took riding lessons and bought her first horse, a little
quarter/thoroughbred yearling she named Mi Choyce, at age sixteen.
While working as a groom for a local hunter/jumper stable, Betsy found that although she had
aspirations of riding, she liked being on the backside more. She like the quiet of caring for the horses
she worked with, and studied with a developing artist’s eye the other aspects of the horse world
around her. She began creating works of art that reflected her day to day experiences, turning her
desire to draw into a full-time commitment of portraying the animals she endears with such a
passion.
Betsy’s passion for photography began at an early age when given a small camera, recording with it
her unique view of the world around her; though it would be many years later before she thought of
herself as a serious photographer. In sharp contrast to the pen and ink drawings Betsy pours over
laboriously for months at a time, the instantaneously captured image through her lense is a gratifying
yet equally challenging medium to express her artistic vision.
Of her work Betsy says, “I never really chose to pursue art, it instead chose me. I have worked at other
things, but it is always my art that I come back to. Early on, I believe I tried to push it away, because it
was not something I was encouraged to pursue. I have come to recognize that being and artist is who
I am - not just something I do – and being able to share my love of horses and life with others in this
way is something I am deeply appreciative of.”
Betsy currently works out of her studio at home where she resides with her four children, husband
Michael, dog Faith, fifteen cats, eleven ducks, and three horses: Lateralus, a five year old
percheron/thoroughbred stallion; Chief, a twenty-four year old belgian gelding; and Mi Choyce, her
beloved best friend who is now twenty-five years old and still her greatest inspiration.
her surroundings, sharing with the viewer an intimate portrait of an otherwise private place. As a self-
taught artist, she has developed a unique and very distinctive style. Her appreciation for her equine
subjects and the art form of pen and ink drawing reflects in her work, revealing a close relationship
with and a deep sensitivity of the individual. This appreciation is also apparent in her photography.
Although she considers herself primarily an equine artist, Betsy’s photographic images express not
only her love of horses, but of all animals and nature; capturing the detail, emotion and personality of
her subjects, inviting us to discover the wonder of our own backyards.
Growing up in a suburb of Rochester, New York, LaMere was not raised with horses, yet yearned to
be. Stories of enduring friendships between horses and the people who loved them inspired her
imagination. At age nine, a visit with a friend to the barn where their family kept two horses was the
first real encounter she had had, and the smell that lingered in the pair of mittens she wore that day
comforted a longing deep within. When her desires to ride went unanswered by her parents, she
worked and saved her money, eventually took riding lessons and bought her first horse, a little
quarter/thoroughbred yearling she named Mi Choyce, at age sixteen.
While working as a groom for a local hunter/jumper stable, Betsy found that although she had
aspirations of riding, she liked being on the backside more. She like the quiet of caring for the horses
she worked with, and studied with a developing artist’s eye the other aspects of the horse world
around her. She began creating works of art that reflected her day to day experiences, turning her
desire to draw into a full-time commitment of portraying the animals she endears with such a
passion.
Betsy’s passion for photography began at an early age when given a small camera, recording with it
her unique view of the world around her; though it would be many years later before she thought of
herself as a serious photographer. In sharp contrast to the pen and ink drawings Betsy pours over
laboriously for months at a time, the instantaneously captured image through her lense is a gratifying
yet equally challenging medium to express her artistic vision.
Of her work Betsy says, “I never really chose to pursue art, it instead chose me. I have worked at other
things, but it is always my art that I come back to. Early on, I believe I tried to push it away, because it
was not something I was encouraged to pursue. I have come to recognize that being and artist is who
I am - not just something I do – and being able to share my love of horses and life with others in this
way is something I am deeply appreciative of.”
Betsy currently works out of her studio at home where she resides with her four children, husband
Michael, dog Faith, fifteen cats, eleven ducks, and three horses: Lateralus, a five year old
percheron/thoroughbred stallion; Chief, a twenty-four year old belgian gelding; and Mi Choyce, her
beloved best friend who is now twenty-five years old and still her greatest inspiration.
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