AN artist is contributing a colourful cow called Clarabelle to a feature in the largest public art event in the world.

Lauren Terry, a former Lady Lumley's student based in York, painted the life-sized, fibreglass sculpture for entry into the Cow Parade, in order to raise money for the Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution (RABI).

The parade, this year held in Surrey, will see the hills, farms, towns, schools and landmarks of the county decorated with dozens of brightly-coloured cows.

Following this display, all of the Cow Parade cows will come together at Coverwood Farm in the Surrey hills and be exhibited, judged and auctioned off – apart from the top 20, which will go to a gala auction in London.

Lauren was sponsored to paint Clarabelle by cattle farmer Tim Metson, who owns Coverwood Farm and runs the Cow Parade. Mr Metson farms Hereford cows; Lauren's design of a looming cow on Clarabelle's flank is also a Hereford.

Lauren said: "My work is simple; I find a cow, photograph it, take it home – the photo not the cow – and paint it.

"The tricky bit is finding the cow. Cows have such a curious nature and humorous personalities, they just make me smile.

"I take great pleasure in passing on those smiles through my painting. I was delighted when RABI approached me to paint a life-size cow and it was quite a challenge. I couldn’t fit it through my studio door.

"Whatever we manage to get is great. My greatest supporters from the very beginning have been cattle farmers. Farming is such an important part of our British way of life, it cannot be allowed to fall into decline.

"RABI does good work every day and I take great comfort knowing that the money I raise is going directly to the farming community."

Lauren has also donated one of her Christmas card designs, "Daisy It's Cold Outside" to RABI, and in 2014 she donated a greetings card design to raise funds for Somerset farmers affected by flooding.