Artist statement
My work focuses upon landscape: gardens, parks, woodland and shorelines. My paintings often hint at a human presence and I feel that my artwork expresses a mood of tranquillity sometimes coupled with one of unease, reflecting upon the external and inner life of the artist. The therapeutic aspect of painting and drawing interests me, how metaphor and symbolism operate as a means of catharsis in the works of artists who influence me, such as Paul Nash.
In 2010 I completed a Masters in Research, examining the forest landscape in selected artists’ work which contributed to a dialogue between modern and contemporary artists responding to the past, who have employed a variety of creative processes and methods of representation. I studied psychoanalytic theories of Jung and Freud, which led me to complete charcoal drawings and continues to inform my current work in colour – acrylic and watercolour, heightening my awareness of the personal and symbolic significance of features in the landscape, what they represent to me and their private and subtle nature.
My work has always been informed by the external environment. I am interested in how serenity can combine with a more unsettling mood, in the psychological connotations of landscape as both exterior and interior space, acting as a vehicle for human emotion, memory and personal significance. My artwork stems from travels throughout Europe, as well as from explorations of my home city of Edinburgh and elswhere in Scotland. Visits to Scottish islands have acted as turning points in the direction of my work, to a simplification of forms and a dream-like atmosphere, and in recent years travels to Norway and Poland, as well as throughout Scotland have provided me with a different focus upon the domestic or urban aspect of gardens, forests and woodland.
Influences
Culture, travel, literature, architecture/urban environment, the Surrealist and Romantic landscape in painting
Teaching Experience
Sessional Art Tutor (Fine Art), Crisis Skylight, Edinburgh from 2013
Adult Education Tutor in drawing and painting, City of Edinburgh Council from 2011
Art Tutor to socially inclusive group of adults in drawing and painting, St. Bride's Community Education Centre, Edinburgh, 1997-2009
Art Tutor to adults in water-based media, Workers' Educational Association, Edinburgh, 1998-2004
Art Tutor to adults in drawing/mixed media, Gorgie City Farm Community Inclusion Project, Edinburgh, 2000
Adult Education Tutor in drawing and painting, City of Edinburgh Council 1987-1999
Work in Collections
BBC Scotland, Glasgow; Queen's Hall, Edinburgh; Eastern General and Astley Ainsley Hospitals, Edinburgh; Art in Healthcare, Scotland; NHS Lothian; University of Edinburgh; Edinburgh College of Art; various in private collections
Qualifications and training
- 2010 Master of Research in Creative Practices, with Merit, Glasgow School of Art, Glasgow
- 1984 Postgraduate Diploma in Painting, Edinburgh College of Art, Edinburgh
- 1983 First Class BA hons in Drawing and Painting, Edinburgh College of Art, Edinburgh
Solo exhibitions
- 2012 Spirit of Place, House for an Art Lover, Bellahouston Park, Glasgow
- 2008 Where Shall We Go? Two person show, The Old Bakehouse Cafe & Gallery, Edinburgh
- 2007 'From Loch to Sea', part of Eclectic Edinburgh Festival Exhibition, C Venue, Adam House, Edinburgh
- 2005 Moorland to Sea, Howard Bar, Royal Lyceum Theatre, Edinburgh
- 2003 Paintings of Sea and Coast - Two Person Show, St Bride's Centre, Edinburgh
- 2001 Shorelines, Recent Scottish Paintings, St Bride's Centre, Edinburgh
- 1999 Casting Shadows, Paintings of Catalonia and Cornwall, Stenton Gallery, East Lothian
- 1997 Paintings of Edinburgh, Cornwall and France, Queen's Hall, Edinburgh
- 1997 Under Spanish Skies, Two person show, Netherbow Arts Centre, Edinburgh
- 1994 Recent Paintings, Filmhouse, Edinburgh
- 1991 Arcadia Restored - New Works on Paper, Gracefield Arts Centre, Dumfries
- 1985 Exhibition of Recent Paintings Edinburgh University Staff Club
- 1984 Two Person Show of Paintings, Ancrum Gallery, by Jedburgh, Borders
Group exhibitions
- 2013 Visual Arts Scotland Annual Exhibition, Royal Scottish Academy, Edinburgh
- 2012 On the first day of Christmas..., House for an Art Lover, Bellahouston Park, Glasgow
- 2012 The Cabinet Show, Compass Gallery, Glasgow
- 2012 Postcards from... Open Exhibition, The Gallery on the Corner, Edinburgh
- 2011 Postcards from... Open Exhibition exploring themes surrounding mental health, The Gallery on the Corner, Edinburgh
- 2011 Poste Restante, An Tobar Arts Centre, Tobermory, Isle of Mull
- 2011 Total Kunst Art Auction, Axo Gallery, Edinburgh
- 2010 Winter Exhibition, Compass Gallery, Glasgow
- 2010 RSA Open, Royal Scottish Academy, Edinburgh
- 2010 Visual Arts Scotland Annual Exhibition, Royal Scottish Academy, Edinburgh
- 2009 Christmas Exhibition, Compass Gallery, Glasgow
- 2009 Leith Festival Art Expo, Arts Complex, St. Margaret's House, Edinburgh
- 2009 Compass Gallery, Glasgow Art Fair, Glasgow
- 2009 Visual Arts Scotland Annual Exhibition, City Art Centre, Edinburgh
- 2008 On a Small Scale - Christmas Exhibition, Open Eye Gallery, Edinburgh
- 2007 'Hidden Paths' - Part of a Mixed Exhibition, Broughton Gallery, Broughton, near Biggar (more info)
- 2007 Rite of Passage - Celebrating 21 Years of Artlink, Link Gallery, Royal Edinburgh Hospital & St. John's Hospital, Livingston
- 2007 Moods of the Sea, Broughton Gallery, Broughton, near Biggar
- 2007 Society of Scottish Artists Annual Exhibition, Royal Scottish Academy, Edinburgh
- 2007 Wild Things - Art at the Airport, Edinburgh Airport, Edinburgh
- 2006 Diverse Quartet - Festival Exhibition, St. Bride's Centre, Edinburgh
- 2005 Aberdour Arts Festival, Various venues, Aberdour
- 2005 Scapes, St. Bride's Centre - Festival Exhibition (Four Person Show), Edinburgh
- 2005 Exhibition for Maggie's Centre, Just Scottish Gallery, Edinburgh
- 2005 Save the Children Fund Exhibition, Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen
- 2004 Christmas Exhibition, Just Scottish Gallery, Edinburgh
- 2004 A World of Difference, Festival of Spirituality and Peace, St. John's Church, Princes Street,, Edinburgh
- 2004 Three Women Painters, Just Scottish Gallery, Edinburgh
- 2004 WASPS Studios Exhibition, Scottish Arts Club, Edinburgh
- 2004 'Summer', Strathearn Gallery, Crieff
- 2003 Moving Solutions, Society of Scottish Artists, Bonhoga Gallery, Weisdale Mill, Shetland
- 2003 Art for Breast Cancer, Bonhams Auctioneers, Edinburgh
- 2003 Winter Exhibition, Campden Gallery, Chipping Campden, Gloucestershire
- 2002 Triple, St Bride's Centre, Edinburgh
- 2001 Art for Breast Cancer, Phillips Auctioneers, Edinburgh
- 2001 Aberdeen Artists Annual Exhibition
- 2001 Mixed Exhibitions, House of Menzies, Aberfeldy
- 2001 Annual Marine Exhibition, Leith Gallery, Edinburgh
- 2000 Mixed Exhibitions, House of Menzies, Aberfeldy
- 2000 Annual Marine Exhibition, Leith Gallery, Edinburgh
- 2000 Mixed shows, Stenton Gallery, East Lothian
- 2000 Glasgow Art Fair
- 1999 Festival Exhibition 99, Patriothall Gallery, WASPS Studios, Edinburgh
- 1999 Mixed Exhibitions, House of Menzies, Aberfeldy
- 1999 Annual Marine Exhibition, Leith Gallery, Edinburgh
- 1999 Summer and Christmas Shows, Open Eye Gallery, Edinburgh
- 1999 Mixed shows, Stenton Gallery, East Lothian
- 1999 Glasgow Art Fair
- 1999 Art '99, London Art Fair
- 1998 Christmas Exhibition, Royal College of Physicians, Edinburgh
- 1998 Cabinet Paintings, Compass Gallery
- 1998 Mixed shows, Stenton Gallery, East Lothian
- 1998 Travellers' Tales, Stenton Gallery, East Lothian
- 1998 Glasgow Art Fair
- 1998 Scotland on Sunday/Noble Grossart Exhibition, Glasgow School of Art and RSA, Edinburgh
- 1998 Art '98, London Art Fair
- 1997 Society of Scottish Artists Annual Exhibition, Royal Scottish Academy, Edinburgh
- 1997 A Patch of Their Own, Compass Gallery, Glasgow and touring Scotland
- 1997 Glasgow Art Fair
- 1997 Scotland on Sunday/Noble Grossart Exhibition, Glasgow School of Art and RSA, Edinburgh
- 1997 Art '97, London Art Fair
- 1996 Regeneration - Collective Gallery collaboration, Eastern General Hospital, Edinburgh
- 1996 Summer Exhibition, Roger Billcliffe Fine Art, Glasgow
- 1996 Art '96, London Art Fair
- 1996 Six Women Artists, Festival Exhibition, Firth Gallery, Edinburgh
- 1995 Out of Edinburgh, Mainhill Gallery, Ancrum, Borders
- 1995 Valentines, Roger Billcliffe Fine Art, Glasgow
- 1994 Summer Exhibition, Roger Billcliffe Fine Art, Glasgow
- 1994 Christmas/CD Show, The Collective Gallery, Edinburgh
- 1993 Christmas/CD Show, The Collective Gallery, Edinburgh
- 1992 Christmas/CD Show, The Collective Gallery, Edinburgh
- 1991 Christmas Show - annual exhibition, Compass Gallery, Glasgow (more info)
- 1991 Christmas/CD Show, The Collective Gallery, Edinburgh
- 1991 Borders Biennial, touring Peebles, Galashiels and Dumfries, South of Scotland
- 1990 Inverclyde Biennial, McLean Museum & Gallery, Greenock
- 1990 Christmas/CD Show, The Collective Gallery, Edinburgh
- 1990 Summer Exhibition, Open Eye Gallery, Edinburgh
- 1989 Society of Scottish Artists Annual Exhibition, Richard Demarco Gallery, Edinburgh
- 1989 Christmas/CD Show, The Collective Gallery, Edinburgh
- 1989 Borders Biennial, touring Peebles, Galashiels and Dumfries, South of Scotland
- 1987 Women Live, City Art Centre, Edinburgh
- 1986 Inverclyde Biennial, McLean Museum & Gallery, Greenock
- 1985 Aberdeen Artists Annual Exhibition, Aberdeen Art Gallery, Aberdeen
- 1985 Group Exhibitions, Ancrum Gallery, by Jedburgh, Borders
- 1984 Christmas Exhibition, Compass Gallery, Glasgow
- 1984 Edinburgh College of Art Cultural Exchange, Academie der Bildenden Kunst, Munich
- 1984 Paisley Drawing Competition, Paisley Museum and Art Gallery, Paisley
- 1984 Exhibition of work by Edinburgh College of Art Students, Helios Pictures, Birmingham
- 1984 New Generation Artists, Compass Gallery, Glasgow
- 1983 Christmas Exhibition, Compass Gallery, Glasgow
Workshops
- 2012 Local History Mural Project - July-Sept 2012, Prestonpans Resource Centre, Prestonpans, East Lothian
- 2012 Spirit of Place Landscape Watercolour Masterclass, House for an Art Lover, Bellahouston Park, Glasgow
Competitions, prizes and awards
- 2009 The Anne Redpath Award, Visual Arts Scotland, Edinburgh
- 1984 John Kinross Travelling Scholarship to Florence, Royal Scottish Academy, Edinburgh
- 1983 Helen A Rose Bequest Award, Edinburgh College of Art, Edinburgh
- 1983 Andrew Grant Travelling Scholarship - Humanities Award, Edinburgh College of Art, Edinburgh
- 1982 Andrew Grant Travelling Scholarship - Humanities Award, Edinburgh College of Art, Edinburgh
Web links - gallery/work/projects
