⁠Who was Caroline Towning? Girlfriend of Sharon Horgan’s ex-husband Jeremy Rainbird dies at 42

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Caroline Towning, the girlfriend of Sharon Horgan's ex-husband, Jeremy Rainbird, has tragically died in New Mexico. Towning, who is only 42 years of age, is an equine artist, amateur showjumper and was the former manager of Blacks' private club was living with Rainbird when she died. The tragic news comes just a few days after their relationship was made public.

Rainbird paid tribute to her on his Instagram, calling her Pony:

"Beautiful Pony, the brightest shining light. Forever in my heart."

The Yorkshire artist earned the name "Pony" because of her love for horses, as she grew up next to them in Harrogate. Her death was announced after she passed away in a Mexican hospital. She was living with her partner, Jeremy Rainbird.


Who was Caroline Towning?

Caroline Towning, who was a graduate of Art Foundation Leeds College of Art & Design, and a Bachelor of Arts in Digital Animation at the University of Hertfordshire, is well respected in the art world and in hospitality.

She was a well-known modern equine artist who specialized in large-scale oil paintings on canvas. She mentioned that her goal was to make the individual "feel the horses breathe come off the canvas":

"Every time you look at one of my horse paintings I want you to really feel that the horse is in the room with you. It's not just about capturing that majestic presence, I almost want you to feel the horses breathe come off the canvas, this is the core essence from which I start every single one of my paintings."

She and her new partner, Jeremy Rainbird, were supposed to launch a new fashion label, Maison Rockman, next spring. The fashion label specializes in black faux-leather creations.

She worked mainly with horses as she grew up alongside them, even becoming an amateur showjumper. She was residing in London, working on art projects before moving in with Rainbird in Mexico.


Sharon Horgan's ex-husband, Jeremy Rainbird's tragedy

Jeremy Rainbird and Towning had just made their relationship public last Friday itself and today, she's no more. The couple's Instagram feed is full of their trips to Mykonos, Nevada, and Los Angeles.

Jeremy Rainbird, the businessman, met Towning after he got divorced from Irish actress, writer, director, producer, and comedian Sharon Horgan. They separated after 14 years of marriage and two teenage daughters. Speaking about her divorce, Sharon Horgan said:

"'There came a point where it was so clear it wasn't right for either of us. It's so destructive. You get one life and that's an awful lot of time to spend on something that's not working.'"

She added:

“I don't know whether it's being slightly a bit Catholic, some of that stuff still being in me was just that idea of not getting divorced. You don't get divorced. Just stay in it. It's so much harder to go through all that, to go through a divorce.”

As they both moved on after the divorce, even Horgan found a new partner; she revealed it on Dinner's on Me with Jesse Tyler Ferguson. After the host, revealed the age gap between him and his husband, Sharon Horgan said:

“I've got a younger partner as well. Well, it's actually nine years. I said 10 years for a while, and it freaked me out too much. It is nine years.”

She continued as she joked:

“I think initially I was like, ‘Oh, that's exotic being 10 years older. I sort of got off on it. And then I was like, ‘Oh, no, that's not good.’”

Sharon Horgan added:

“We met years ago doing a film together, and then, you know, became friendly. And then a good few years later — this wasn't on purpose, by the way — I cast him in Bad Sisters.”

Sharon mentioned that she didn't expect to fall in love again:

“It’s different when you’re my age. Being single again at my age is kind of a whole thing.”

Sharon Horgan hasn't provided any more details about her new partner.


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Edited by Zachary D. Lyngdoh