Have you ever looked at a Highland cow and thought, “I just have to draw that shaggy cutie!”—but didn’t know where to start? You’re in the right place, because today I’m showing you step-by-step how to draw a Highland cow, even if you’re totally new to drawing.
I’ve always had a soft spot for Highland cows. There’s just something about their scruffy bangs and big fluffy bodies that makes me smile every single time. As a kid, I used to see them in books and try to doodle them in the corners of my sketchpad—but back then, my attempts looked more like overgrown sheep than majestic Scottish cattle.
Thankfully, a lot has changed since then—hello, Procreate brushes and years of practice! But don’t worry, this tutorial doesn’t require any fancy digital tools. Whether you’re sketching with a pencil, coloring with crayons, or tapping away on your iPad, this Highland cow drawing is perfect for you.
We’ll walk through 16 simple steps, and by the end, you’ll have your own adorable Highland cow, complete with chubby cheeks, sweet horns, and a tiny flower friend. It’s the kind of drawing that makes your sketchbook instantly more cheerful!
🖍️ You’ll love this tutorial if:
- You want to learn how to draw a Highland cow in a cute cartoon style
- You’re looking for an easy, beginner-friendly animal drawing
- You enjoy fluffy things. (Because this cow? It’s very fluffy.)
- You need a fun activity to do with kids, students, or just for yourself
✨ Tip: If you enjoy this step-by-step, don’t miss my other animal tutorials too!
Check out these reader favorites:
- How to Draw a Cow – Cute Cow Drawing Tutorial
- How to Draw a Duck – Cute Duck Drawing Tutorial
- How to Draw a Frog – Cute Frog Drawing
And don’t forget to follow along on Pinterest for even more drawing ideas: @digitaldrawingideas
Step 1: Draw the snout
Let’s start with a rounded rectangle shape in the center of your page. This will be the Highland cow’s snout—kind of like a soft, sideways oval. Keep your lines light and smooth—it doesn’t need to be perfect!
Step 2: Add the nose, mouth, and blush spots
Inside the snout, draw two small dots for the nostrils and a curved line underneath for a happy smile. Then, add two oval shapes—one on each side above the snout—to mark the cow’s cute blushy cheeks.
Step 3: Sketch the fluffy fringe
Now it’s time to give our Highland cow its signature shaggy bangs! Draw a big, bouncy shape above the snout with lots of curved, zigzag lines to create a fluffy fringe. Think of it like a cloud of messy hair—cute and wild!
Step 4: Outline the sides of the head
Let’s finish the cow’s fluffy head! Extend zigzag lines downward from both sides of the fringe to form the sides of the face. These lines should curve outward a bit and look just as fuzzy and soft as the top hair.
Step 5: Draw the horns
Time to add those iconic Highland cow horns! On each side of the head, draw a curved horn that points upward and slightly outward, like two gentle crescent moons. Make sure they’re symmetrical for a balanced and adorable look!
Step 6: Add the ears
Draw two oval-shaped ears just below each horn, curving slightly outward. These cute ears should tuck in next to the fluffy hair, making your Highland cow look extra cuddly and friendly!
Step 7: Start the body with a fuzzy chest
Let’s begin drawing the cow’s body by adding the fluffy chest! From the bottom of the head, draw a curved line with soft zigzags pointing outward to show the thick fur. It should flow slightly to the side, just like the cow’s cozy coat.
Step 8: Draw the front leg
Under the fluffy chest, draw a front leg by sketching two straight lines that curve into a rounded hoof at the bottom.
Add a horizontal line across the hoof to separate it from the leg—it gives it that cute, cartoon look!
Step 9: Add the second front leg
Let’s give our cow another leg to stand on! Draw a second front leg to the left of the first one.
Just like before, use two straight lines and round them off at the bottom with a curved hoof.
Don’t forget the little line across the hoof!
Step 10: Outline the back and add a hind leg
Now let’s shape the back of the cow! Starting from just below the ear, draw a long curved line that loops around into a back leg. End it with a rounded hoof and add the little line across it to match the others.
Your cow is looking extra cuddly now!
Step 11: Connect the belly
To complete the cow’s body shape, draw a short, wavy line connecting the two legs on the right side.
This will form the fuzzy belly and help bring everything together—like one cozy, fluffy shape!
Step 12: Add the second hind leg
Draw one more leg just in front of the back leg to balance things out. Use the same simple shape—two lines and a curved hoof with a line across it.
Now your Highland cow has all four feet on the ground!
Step 13: Draw the tail
Add a curved line from the cow’s back to create its tail, ending with a puffy tuft of fur at the tip.
Make it look a little wavy and soft—just like the rest of this fluffy cutie!
Step 14: Add fur details
Let’s give your Highland cow some extra fluff! Draw a few short, curved lines on the head, chest, and body to show the direction of the fur.
These little details make the cow look even shaggier and more adorable.
Step 15: Draw a flower friend
Let’s add a cute little flower next to your Highland cow! Draw a simple flower shape with five petals, a round center, and a small curved stem with two leaves.
It’s a sweet little detail that makes your drawing even more cheerful!
Step 16: Color your Highland cow
Now for the fun part—coloring! Use warm browns and tans for the cow’s fur, a soft pink for the snout and cheeks, and dark brown for the horns and hooves.
Don’t forget to color the little flower too!
Feel free to get creative and make it your own.
Final Thoughts – Now You Know How to Draw a Highland Cow!
Drawing this Highland cow was such a joy, and I hope you had as much fun as I did! Whether you used Procreate like I did or grabbed your favorite markers and paper, the end result is something to be proud of.
Remember, the magic isn’t just in the final picture—it’s in the process of creating it.
So:
- Celebrate your fluffy masterpiece.
- Add your own twist—maybe some flowers on its head?
- Or better yet, draw a whole Highland cow family!
🎨 Share your version with me on Pinterest or tag me on Instagram @digitaldrawingideas—I love seeing your creations!
Got a question or suggestion for the next drawing tutorial? Drop a comment or pin this post so you can come back later.
Until next time—stay cozy, stay creative, and keep drawing what makes you smile!
