"Islander" solo exhibition in Aberdeen

I'm returning to the Rendezvous Gallery in Aberdeen this month with a new show of works from the Shetland Isles, the Isle of May, Isle of Skye and various skerries and sea stacks of the Scottish coastline. Much of the work has been completed on location, observing not only these extraordinary landscapes but also the rich habitats and seabird life which they support.

It has been a priviledge to put this body of work together and allowed me to explore some of the most dramatic and inspiring coastlines in Scotland. From the fog-shrouded first landfall of returning puffins in spring to the deafening roar of wind and waves from which I was eventually forced to retreat back to shelter on Shetland. All have presented a new facet and different insight to an environment constantly in flux.

The exhibition opens on Friday 4th November 6-9pm and continues until 19th November.

 

Drawn to Land and Sea

Drawn to Land and Sea opens at Kinblethmont House Gallery in Angus on Saturday 29th October 2016. It is a collection of works by Leo du Feu, Nye Hughes, Kittie Jones, Lara Scouller, Susan Smith and myself inspired very much by our week-long expedition to the Isle of May earlier in the year, supplemented by other drawing trips to coastlines and islands.

If you would like an invite to the private viewings on Friday 28th and Saturday 29th October please contact me.

 

Sumburgh Head Artist in Residence

Arriving into Lerwick in the early morning by ferry, Shetland is wreathed in a fine low-hanging mist which blankets the landscape, softening and enveloping its edges. Later in the day glorious summer sunshine will break through creating dazzling patterns on the sea. It is emerging from a lingering pocket of mist into such sunshine that there is the first glimpse of Sumburgh Head Lighthouse. From land which has tapered away almost to sea level the ground suddenly surges upward again to create one final jutting headland of rock, scoured meadow and cliffs, home to the Robert Stevenson designed lighthouse and nesting site to thousands of seabirds.

Constructed in 1821, Sumburgh Head was the first lighthouse in Shetland and the Smiddy building which also served as accommodation quarters for occasional or visiting lighthouse keepers now became temporary studio and home for two weeks. 

Arriving in a new environment can be exciting but also daunting - where to start, what to draw first, how best to capture a sense of place and above all how to do it all in a finite period of time. Not to mention battling with wind, rain and a drawing board determined to take flight on those days when the weather is a dramatic sequence of shifting light and wind-blown spume but every movement is a struggle against the elements.

There is however something about more demanding conditions which sharpens the senses and a rush of energy to get it down on paper before the moment passes. In this drawing made on Noss, the crest of the hill or Noop of Noss was catching a strong breeze and wisps of cloud and mist being blown up and over the cliffs. I had initially hoped to include a group of gugas (immature gannets) just the other side of the wall but after only a few strokes of the pencil their initial inquisitiveness turned to nervousness and one by one they took flight, dropping down from the edge then catching an updraft to soar along the cliff. My attention shifted to this viewpoint of the birds at eye-level and constant wheeling of their white forms above dark caves in the cliffs.

The quality of shifting light was one of the most attractive aspects of Shetland, and of many islands where the expanse of sea heightens the effect of varying conditions. From stark, almost painfully bright glints on water and wet rock to the soft blending of low cloud where it becomes impossible to distinguish the horizon line.

The lighthouse became a focal point in many drawings, this one made from a sheltered cleft between huge slabs of black rock. It had been windy enough to whistle constantly through the keyholes of the cottage and transform the sea to a white froth of spindrift and spume. What particularly attracted me was the contrast of slick black rock, seafoam and scattering of boulders and pebbles thrown up at my feet by previous storms. On some of the rocky outcrops just the other side of the cliff wall the shags clustered together in large groups, feathers ruffled, waiting for calm. The next day they were gone, only to be glimpsed on thier more habitual low lying perches at the sea edge.

The landscape itself has many different aspects to give, on Mousa the impressive Iron Age Broch, stone walls and beaches are home to the beautiful storm petrel. Coming to land only after nightfall its call is a strange combination of whirring chirps and inspite of its diminutive size (a little bigger than a sparrow) it spends most of its life at sea. I had the rare priviledge of seeing the birds at close quarters thanks to a team who were undertaking some ringing and documentation work. The storm petrel has an unexpectedly musty scent similar to an old house which has been closed up for too long and a wonderful way of stretching the wings skyward for a moment or two before take-off almost like a gymnast or high-dive athlete poised in the moment before action. Then a swift ficker and they disappear back into the dark.

Each day at Sumburgh brought a fresh perspective on the same subject. Looking out from the lighthouse over Scatness to Quendale or south to Fair Isle, watching weather systems passing through, fulmars effortlessly gliding by with the merest tremble of the wings to change direction and occasionally a glimpse of things that the landscape has concealed -  both man-made and natural.

I will be returning to Sumburgh in June 2017 for a month during which time I will be exhibiting work produced as a result of the residency. Some works from Shetland will also feature in my forthcoming solo exhibition at the Rendezvous Gallery, Aberdeen during Novemebr 2016.

 

Drawing at St Abbs

I had a fabulous couple of days last week exploring the dramatic coastline at St Abbs and sight of thousands of guillemots jostling for space on the sea cliffs. Every now and then the mist came swirling in from the North Sea and obscured all but the faintest ghost of the crags, the only indication of life being the persistent high pitched calls of the kittiwakes and background chatter of guillemots and razorbills.

 

The Nature of Scotland, SNH Magazine

I was recently asked to contribute an article to the Scottish Natural Heritage magazine describing how my work is influenced by the natural world. The full article is available online and print copies are available at a number of venues such as National Nature Reserves across Scotland. (Page 60).

http://www.snh.gov.uk/publications-data-and-research/publications/search-the-catalogue/publication-detail/?id=2413

I

I

 

RSW 5th Summer Open Annual Exhibition

The RSW show opens this weekend in Forfar with a wide selection of work in water-based media. I'll be showing two works both inspired by some of my travels and the result of much experimentation. I find that working across a variety of media leads naturally to approaching work in new ways as one discipline informs the other and my printmaking practice has had a strong influence on the development of these pieces. 



 This is one of a series of "Lost Postcards" from Cuba, my postcards (those which turned up) took over six months to reach the UK leading to questions around communications and freedom of speech both within Cuba and its relationship with the wider world.

Below, a painting on constructed papers reflecting the wonderful higgeldy-piggeldy effect of crumbling plaster, painted signs, posters and other ephemera which captivated me in India. 
 

For more details and opening times follow the link:
http://www.rsw.org.uk/ 

Print Room Dundee

I'm very pleased to be part of an exciting new collective of printmakers who all make our work in Dundee. The mutual support of everyone at the workshop, opinions, advice and general cameraderie have been invaluable over the years so now its nice to look forward to showing work together as well as making it alongside each other.

http://www.printroomdundee.scot/index.htm 

Keep an eye on the website for news of exhibitions and events, hopefully coming soon!

The Isle of May


 I have just spent a wonderful week on the Isle of May in the Firth of Forth, walking, watching, drawing and absorbing the rhythm of life on the island. Predictably the weather was changeable and there were moments of battling the wind as paper and drawing board threatened to blow away or having to dry out a sodden sketchbook by the stove. But it meant seeing so many different facets of the island as sea spume swirled around the cliffs at Altarstanes Harbour, the magical appearance of vast numbers of puffins from the gloom of a murky morning or shags preening and glistening in the sunshine.

More to come soon!



The Black Spout



I had a fabulous day out drawing the Black Spout waterfalls at Pitlochry last week. The sun was shining, the birds were singing, it was actually warm enough that my hands didn't go blue working without gloves on! Here are a couple of the drawings, really enjoying the play of light on still pools or foaming, rushing torrents and some lovely rock forms.

Winter Drawing


A few quick sketches from my travels around Dumfries and Galloway on a glorious frosty and sunny morning in February. 

And drawings in ink of some fantastic tree forms. I really enjoyed getting back to basics making these, restricting myself to working purely in black and white with one brush and a twig. Its always a pleasure spending a few hours outside, getting completely absorbed in a subject and thinking of nothing else but what the next mark will be.


 

Royal Institute of Painters In Watercolour Exhibition


One of my India inspired watercolours 'Sabzi Bazaar' has just been accepted to the RI show at Mall Galleries, London and will be on show there from 6th-16th April 2016.

http://www.mallgalleries.org.uk/whats-on/exhibitions/royal-institute-painters-water-colours-2016 

The piece began life as a selection of sketchbook images which I had been working up using different printmaking techniques and as a by-product, had lots of lovely scraps of brightly coloured and textured papers. They resolved themselves into an image formed around two women who I drew at a vegetable bazaar in Udaipur. A huge basket of luscious papaya and other equally vibrant fruit and vegetables in the foreground vied for brilliance with the womens shimmering saris. As usual the setting was a confusing backdrop of awnings, parasols, doorways, peeling paintwork, signs and small shrines. 
 






New year, new projects

This year has brought an exciting new project which will be taking me on a number of drawing trips around Dumfries and Galloway, an area I've often travelled through but never before had the pleasure to stop and explore. So far I've travelled most of the length of the Solway coastline, pausing to draw subjects along the way ranging from the Barnacle Geese at Caerlaverock to the Mull of Galloway lighthouse.


 Also recently completed are two new sets of linocuts based on some wildlife drawing made in the autumn.

 
 

 

Plunge


A recent collagraph I've been working on after spending many happy hours watching the cormorants and gannets diving off Waternish Point on Skye earlier this year. This is a working proof yet to be editioned but I think its just about ready to go. I really love those rich, velvety blacks full of texture which collagraph can achieve.


And some fresh inspiration from a recent trip into the Cairngorms just in time for the first serious snowfall of the year. The walk up was eerily misty but once in the bowl of the corrie it suddenly began to lift, revealing spectacular black rocky outcrops and snow filled gullies.

Sea Campion and Gulls

Another new linocut fresh off the press, Sea Campion are one of my favourite flowers clinging to tiny scraps of turf in among the rocks at the bottom of my parents croft on Skye. The delicate white petals and subtle veins somehow withstand the battering they receive from the elements and always seem to have a tangle of twines, interesting flotsam and jetsam intertwining with their roots.

Christmas Exhibitions


I thought this was a suitably wintry picture to accompany a selection of other works in linocut and painting at the Frames Christmas Exhibition (13th November - 30th January)  http://www.framesgallery.co.uk/exhibitions/

There will also be a a couple of my linocuts on show at the House for an Art Lover Christmas Exhibition (24th November - 18th January) http://www.houseforanartlover.co.uk/

Further north I have recently sent a selection of new linocuts  to Gallery 48 in Cromarty http://www.gallery48.scot/index.asp and will also be bringing some of my most recent works to the Castle Gallery in Inverness later this month http://www.castlegallery.co.uk/ 

Directional Signage NHS England


The last few weeks have seen my linocut tools being put through their paces cutting a set of images for a refurbished health centre in Nottinghamshire. Each scene is based on a site of local interest and has a key colour relating to the wayfinding signage. The prints have just been sent off for scanning and will be reproduced at several metres width to fill entire sections of wall. I'm looking forward to seeing the finished result!

Puhoi Organic Milk Packaging

This summer I was asked to do some work for a design agency in New Zealand to be used on packaging for an organic milk and artisan cheese company near Auckland City. They were very keen to use artwork that evoked craft and tradition but also had a contemporary feel and would work well in a variety of soft, vintage style colours. It turned out linocut was just what was needed.

And the lovely vintage company van being kitted out with its new livery.



To see more examples visit: https://www.facebook.com/PuhoiValley/info?tab=overview

Notes from the Sketchbook

 I always enjoy heading off in whatever direction my feet happen to carry me with a sketchbook and selection of drawing equipment. Normally fairly basic, quick and easy to use items like watercolour pencils, a few soft pastels and plenty of soft pencils. This year has taken me to Shetland, Sutherland, Galway, Skye, the Lake District and the Perthshire hills so far with some great wildlife spotting including huge bird colonies, dolphins, orca and a sparrowhawk which made itself at home on my parents lawn on Skye one morning.

Here is a small selection from the current sketchbooks....