He will be one of about 100 artists expected to take part in the international CowParade public art event to be held in the Margaret River region next year.

Although Mr Juniper is better known for his West Australian landscape paintings, he is unfazed by the prospect of painting a cow.

“Having spent a number of years on dairy farms both in the UK and in the Margaret River region, I will feel quite at home decorating a cow and particularly feel that 3D cows really lend themselves to abstract designs,” he said.

The Augusta Margaret River Tourism Associa-tion estimates the CowParade will be viewed by more than 650,000 people throughout the course of the event.

Artist submissions closed today and event manager Sharon Batley said the association was thrilled with the number and the calibre of applications received.

Despite the tight economic times sponsors for the event were also coming through.

“It’s all going really well, and we are very confident it will be a very successful event,” Ms Batley said.

The artist selection committee will meet on July 30, after which the successful applicants’ names will be released.