Watch: Shepherd developing her artistic streak

A Middlemarch head shepherd who loves working with her dogs, is also a talented painter.

Lauren Chittock, originally from Gore, attended St Hilda's Collegiate School in Dunedin before studying at Telford for two years.

On completion of her studies, she got a scholarship to work on Huntleigh Station and she has been there ever since.

It is a job that lets her spend time with her dogs as well as developing her artistic side - painting landscapes and animals.

Huntleigh Station is a sheep and beef property of just under 6500ha, situated about 95km southwest of Dunedin.

Huntleigh Station head shepherd Lauren Chittock (23) says training dogs is a highlight of her job. Photo / Ella Stokes

Chittock is now head shepherd and her role involves looking after the top two blocks on the farm, as well as stock movements, helping juniors and ''a lot of yard work''.

Chittock said she loved working there and ''the sunshine is great''.

The size of the property allowed her to have a team of dogs - the highlight of her job.

She now has eight of her own and said she was lucky because the large size of the property meant she could have them in work all the time.

''I just love working with my dogs ... you're working with your best mates.''

She had also attended dog trials both in Middlemarch and at home in Gore and aimed to do more.

''Getting out there and training your dog is fun and then you watch it run at the trials and you can be proud of what you've done.''

Chittock said she had only once had issues with being a female in a male-dominated job.

''Once I rang up for a job and they said no offence but we don't want you because you're a girl ... that was pretty disheartening.''

However, Chittock said she did not let that stop her.

''Girls working in the job is becoming more common.''

After work, Chittock can often be found inside painting.

''When you come home from work there's not much else to do out here, so I just paint.''

She said she first found her love for painting when she was at school.

''I had a really good art teacher and it was my favourite subject.''

Chittock paints for herself and friends and family, but hopes to do it more in the future.

She is excited to be putting her paintings in an exhibition next month for the first time.

She said she loved farming and would continue at it, but in the future hoped she would be able to paint more.