dunnottar castle

Happy New Year and Happy New Studio!

Just a quick post to wish you all a very Happy New Year!

In my newly set up studio at Langstane Place, Aberdeen

I am especially grateful to those of you who have very kindly supported me by purshcasing my work this past year and in previous years too! Every single painting and print that you buy really does help me to continue to keep making new work, and for that I am extremely grateful! And, while I love what I do, it’s not always easy to keep going, especially in this economic climate.

Pam helping me out (as she always does!) in the new studio

But very special thanks must be given to my truly wonderful, kind and ever-supportive partner Pam. Without her help in so many ways, without her great patience, kindness and generosity and her all-round gorgousness life would simply be so much harder indeed! I love you Pammy and want to say the biggest !!THANK YOU!! from the bottom of my heart for everything you have done and still do for me! You really are the best!!

There’s plenty more to write about just now and I’ll post a fuller update on my recent studio move and some upcoming solo shows very soon. But in the meantime, I wish you all a very Happy New Year and here’s to a highly creative, productive, successful and – not least – fun-filled 2023!

Edinburgh Art Fair with Ballater Gallery

Just a quick update to say I have a couple of large oil paintings on show with Ballater Gallery at the Edinburgh Art Fair this weeked.

Marion from Ballater Gallery hanging their EAF show.

All details can be found below or by clicking this link: Edinburgh Art Fair

It’s on today (19th Nov) until 6pm and continues tomorrow 11-5pm.

Here’s all you need to know!

EAF – Venue & Opening

O2 Academy Edinburgh

New Market Road, EH14 1RJ

Preview Evening & Drinks Reception

Thursday 17th November 18.30 – 21.30

£20 on the door or by invitation

Includes a Full Access Pass for unlimited entry during the public open days.

Public Opening

Friday 18th November

11.00 – 18.00

Saturday 19th November

11.00 – 18.00

Sunday 20th November

11.00 – 17.00

Admission: £7.50 / Concessions £5.00

Full Access Pass upgrade: £10.00 / £7.50

PAY AT THE DOOR OR, IN ADVANCE

Under 16’s free if accompanied by an adult

New Work with Ballater Gallery at Aberdeen Art Fair 2022

I am delighted to be showing two recently finished large oil paintings for the first time with Ballater Gallery at this weekend’s Aberdeen Art Fair (details below)

Dunnottar Castle is quite possibly THE perfect landscape painter’s subject. Sitting atop a magestic outcrop of rusty red sandstone, surrounded by constantly changing seas and skies, it’s sheer immensity and magnificence are breathtaking – the scene simply demands to be painted!

My favourite place to paint!

The above painting is the view from the little bridge that spans the deep gully and leads to the cliffs on the western side of the castle. Those cliffs have also been a favourite haunt of mine over the past few months and are a great spot to paint en plein air (below).

Me painting en plein air at Dunnottar Castle

After spending several months working on this particular painting – and trying do the scene the justice it deserves – it will be great to see it hanging at the Aberdeen Art Fair (AAF) from this Friday.

Preview 6–9pm at Aberdeen Music Hall

Muckle Flugga – the UK’s northernmost lighthouse

Muckle Flugga – oil on canvas – 80x80cm (unframed size)

Also on show at Aberdeen Art Fair with Ballater Gallery will be this newly finished oil painting of the mighty Muckle Flugga!

Muckle Flugga (Old Norse Mikla Flugey, meaning “large steep-sided island”) is the northernmost point of the British Isles and, in my own humble opinion, has to be one of the most dramatic lighthouse locations on Earth.

I hope to have captured something of the rugged nature of the rock itself, but also of the precariousness of that lonely lighthouse perched upon it. The perpetual crashing of great ocean waves has done little to change this scene since the lighthouse was built in 1854. But nothing lasts for ever – apart from oil paintings hopefully!

Maybe see you at the preview!

Details for Aberdeen Art Fair

Preview Evening: Friday 2^nd September 6pm – 9pm
Opening times: 10 – 5pm Saturday 3^rd & Sunday 4^thSeptember

Find Ballater Gallery on Stand 12.

Free entry for all for both the preview evening and Saturday/Sunday

Pittenweem Arts Festival

Tomorrow marks the start of the Pittenweem Arts Festival (6-13th August) and I’m very happy to be taking part alongside fellow members of Fife Dunfermline Printmakers Workshop. I’m looking forward to seeing all the work we have on show at the preview this evening.

All are welcome to come along tonight for an early viewing between 6.30-9pm at Lesser Church Hall, James St, Pittenweem.

Above are 2 of the large framed prints I have in the show, St Monans and Dunnottar Castle. Both etchings were produced in July especially for this event.

I’ll also be showing my Blue Moon etching (below). There are only a few left from this very limited edition of 20 numbered prints, so if you want to own one you best hurry to bag yours!

I have a few other mounted prints available from the venue including the following, all of which are fairly local to the area:

If you can get to Pittenweem during the festival you will find art filling the streets and almost every home above the beautiful harbour and beyond. It’s a fantastic event and well worth the trip for a great day out!

More details about the festival and invited guest artists can be found here!