Guess where I've been!

 

Just back from Canada where I travelled from Calgary to Vancouver and Victoria.
The journey from Canmore to Jasper lives up to it's reputation as one of the best drives in the world. The views were absolutely astonishing, scenery on an epic scale. The landscape wasn't the only eye opener. There is a rich and vibrant history of Canadian First Nation art. This is the Thunderbird House Post, a replica by Kwakwaka'wakw artist Charlie James erected in Stanley Park, Vancouver. I didn't visit the museum with the original house post but I can thoroughly recommend the Royal British Columbia Museum in Victoria for it's First Nation collection.
First Nation art seems to be alive and kicking with lots of galleries and shops dedicated to selling good quality work.

Art at Beauly

 

Today I spent another day as artist in residence, along with Eileen Addly, at Beauly Gallery. The gallery is part of an Art around the Firth trail for Highland Open studios week. Lots of fellow artists, friends and holidaymakerscame to see the exhibition so there was plenty chat over lunches and coffees. I was billed as a mixed media artist so I had my table littered with papers, scraps and work at different stages. The "Mountain with Linen" featuring the defunct teatowel was of much interest! All in all, a convivial couple of days. The exhibition runs till the end of the month.

Wrecked

 

Came back last week from a wee holiday on Tanera Mor in the beautiful Summer Islands. The idea was to paint but walking and relaxing were also high on the agenda. This is a stunning location with views across to the iconic Coigach hills and south across a scatter of islands to more epic mountain ranges. There's lots to paint here, sea, sky, mountains, piers, boats and a cracking wreck which is submerged daily. Painting outside is a challenge, the eye does funny things with distance, scale and perspective. Stac Pollaidh was tantalising, appearing and disappearing but always spectacular, except of course when the mist came down. Now I'm home I hope to weave my sketches and images into some new paintings.
Meanwhile, I'm at Beauly Gallery for a couple of days as artist in residence. More later....

Mountain with Linen

 

I had a favourite old linen tea towel which faded and began to fall apart. So I ripped it into pieces and stuck the largest chunk onto paper to form a textured base for a painting. It was fun to paint on and Mountain with Linen is the result. This artwork is one of a number in the exhibition at Beauly Gallery. The Gallery is one of a number of locations taking part in Highland Open Studios week, from 24th till 31st July, with "Art around the Firth"

Strike a Pose

I like using old found materials, giving them a new lease of life. My father was a photographer in the pre-digital age and I used some of his discarded stuff to create mixed media pieces. Old photos tell a story regardless of whether one knows the people in the pictures.The women posing here remind us of times past. "Strike a Pose" is on display along with "Happy Days" at Iolaire Photo:Graphics in Nairn.

4 Square at Nairn

 

The Nairn Book and Arts Festival opens next weekend, Saturday 5th June. Apart from all the booky events, there are a number of art exhibitions. The main one is the Nairn Open and sadly I wasn't selected this year. However I have 2 paintings including this one, entitled Meandering Landscape, at the 4 Square exhibition, and 3 at The Baker's Dozen exhibition.

West Coast Magic

 

At the end of June last year I spent a wonderfully sunny week in the far North of Scotland. One morning at Oldshoremore, the sea was the most amazing green and the cliffs warm in the early sun. Just magic. This acrylic painting of the scene is in the new exhibition at Leakey's in Inverness. Runs till August.