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The Gallery on the Corner | Scottish Landscape Art - Scottish Landscape Paintings

Posts Tagged ‘The Gallery on the Corner’

Glasgow Contemporary Art Fair 2015 – www.gcaf.co.uk

For anyone living in the Glasgow area, here is a reminder that it is the Glasgow Contemporary Art Fair this weekend.

'Approaching Stob Dubh, Glen coe',. Acrylic & Pastel, 2015, 80 x 80 cm ,

‘Approaching Stob Dubh, Glen Coe’

A few months ago I was contacted by a new gallery called the “Ailsa Gallery” and asked if I’d like to exhibit some work with them on their stand at the new Glasgow Contemporary Art Fair.  This is a great opportunity to get my work seen by a large number of people and to introduce it to a new audience, so I’m really looking forward to seeing how it goes.  The event previews on Friday evening and is open on Saturday 25th April and Sunday 26th April.   Although I’m very busy working at the moment, I’m hoping to get to see the fair for a few hours.  It’s always interesting seeing the wide range of work on display ……checking out the opposition!   Anyway, if you live in or around Glasgow, do pop along to see the work.  You can find out all the details by visiting www.gcaf.co.uk .

I’ve been madly painting away over the last couple of weeks, trying to get some new paintings completed ready for my exhibition with the John Muir Trust at their “Wild Space” gallery in Pitlochry…..starting on May 1st and running until June 29th 2015.  It’s all coming on quite well although I can’t believe its April 21st already ….where has all the time gone?!

'Snow shower, below the east ridge of Ben Lui', Acrylic & Pastel, 2012, 80 x 80 cm,

‘Snow shower, below the east ridge of Ben Lui’

Nita and I also drove through to Edinburgh last week to swap over some work at “the gallery on the corner”.  It was great getting over there again as what with one thing and another; we haven’t visited since August last year.  The gallery of course, looked fantastic and they had a very nice range of work on show.  With gallery manager Susie off for quite a few months, it’s been left in the very able hands of her assistant Paul to run the show.  Hats off to him, he is doing a great job and doing the gallery, its artists and the charity that run it, (Autism Initiatives Scotland) ….proud.   Anyway, well done Paul….. and enjoy your well earned holiday soon.  While there we discussed my forthcoming exhibition at the gallery.  This will preview on August 7th I think, and run until the end of the month.  I’ll be posting far more information about this exhibition nearer the time.  As far as I know, the exhibition will coincide with the Edinburgh Festival…. so hopefully we’ll get a lot of visitors through the door.

'Breaking mists, Isle of Arran', Acrylic & Pastel, 80 x 80 cm

‘Breaking mists, Isle of Arran’

That’s about it for now…… I need to pick up the paint brush again!  Just one final bit of news though.  The annual “Open Studios Ayrshire” event takes place this weekend too.  I’m not taking part myself this year as I’m just too busy.  However, this is a great event and there are many Ayrshire artists and makers taking part this year and so it’s a fabulous opportunity for anyone living in the region to see some of the fine work being created here in Ayrshire.  For full details of the event, visit: www.openstudiosayrshire.com  .

Whatever you do this weekend, be it visiting the Glasgow Contemporary Art Fair,   doing a trail around Ayrshire studios or simply putting your feet up ……have a great time.

Glasgow Art Fair, 2015

‘Towards Glen Coe, late afternoon, January’

313 'Towards Glen Coe, late afternoon, January', Acrylic & Pastel, 2014, 80 x 80 cm

‘Towards Glen Coe, late afternoon, January’

 

‘Towards Glen Coe, late afternoon, January’, Acrylic & Pastel, 2014, 80 x 80 cm

It’s very warm here in Irvine this morning and so here is a cool image to balance things out!

The real reason for using this painting is that it recently sold at “the gallery on the corner” in Edinburgh and I thought I’d say a big thank you to the people who bought it and to the staff at the gallery.

The scene is a view looking towards Glen Coe from the edge of Rannoch Moor on what was a very cold winter afternoon.   After all the fine warm weather this summer, this kind of scene seems a long way away but in reality there could be snow falling on the higher Scottish summits very soon now!

Summit meeting

View from Edinburgh castle

View from Edinburgh castle

It has been a case of ‘hold the front page’ this week.  My original plan was to do the entire blog about a visit we made to Edinburgh on Wednesday.  Then yesterday I got a very interesting email from a gentleman called Richard Baker…. and I decided that my plans for the blog would have to change a little.

But a bit about Edinburgh first as this really was an important occasion.  As you know, back in 2010 I was invited to act as patron to ‘the gallery on the corner’ in Edinburgh.  This wonderful gallery, run by Autism Initiative Scotland, not only supports and exhibits work by people affected by autism and other health issues, but it also trains young people affected by autism, in both the creative and retail sides of the business.  On Wednesday afternoon I was invited to attend the gallery to help celebrate the successful completion of their training by the galleries most recent five trainees.  It was good to meet them all and to be there as they were presented with their certificates by gallery manager Susie Anderson.  This is now the third group of young people to have completed training at the gallery and a new group of trainees has just started …..so the gallery staff and trainees are doing a great job and achieving a great deal.

As I’ve said in the past, if you are in Edinburgh at any point, do make it along to ‘the gallery on the corner’.  You’ll find a great selection of works, some by established artists and some created by the trainees in the studios below the gallery.  It’s well worth a visit and of course your support will help more young people get real practical training both creatively and in business and retail skills.  ‘the gallery on the corner’ really is a win win situation …do please support it if you can.

And now, as they say, for something completely different.  You’ll perhaps remember that back in August I think it was, we did a magnificent walk up the Corbett, Mam na Gualainn.  We’d been threatening to take our friend Guy there for a good number of years and so the three of us finally made it to the top on what was a particularly fine day.  It wasn’t clear blue skies, but rather a constantly changing scene as banks of low cloud drifted in from the west and broke around the mountains of Glencoe, the Mamores and….Mam na Gualainn.

Panorama Loch Leven by Richard Baker

Panorama Loch Leven by Richard Baker

A large group of walkers set off up hill a short while before we started but with my slow pace they soon disappeared and we saw no one all the way to the summit.  We’d sat for a while just below the summit eating our lunch and watching the clouds come and go and the views change every minute.  Our plan was to continue east along the grassy ridge for some way before retracing our steps.  As we got up to leave, a gentleman arrived at the summit and we stood and chatted for five minutes or so.  At the time it was just one of those meetings you occasionally have on Scottish hills …..you’ve perhaps been walking for three or four hours and haven’t seen anyone and then suddenly someone appears.  It’s nice to stop and have a chat before both going on your respective ways again.

Anyway, that would have been that, but a couple of days ago a got this email from Richard explaining that he had been the chap we’d spoken to near the summit of Mam na Gualainn back in August.  He said that he’d thought he’d recognised me as we spoke (he had apparently found my website while looking for paintings of Scotland a few months before) but it was only as we headed off that he realised where he’d seen my face before.  Richard was in the middle of a lengthy walk and was heading back towards Corrour.  Anyway, he sent me this magnificent photograph which he took, looking back towards Loch Leven, with Mam na Gualainn on the right and the Pap of Glencoe in the centre.  What a fantastic panorama … I’m going to have to do a walk in that direction myself sometime.

Anyway, thanks Richard, for getting in touch.  You say that you are away walking again this coming week …..hope you have a great time and hope to see you at the studio sometime …..or perhaps again by chance at the top of a hill somewhere.

Are you in Edinburgh at the moment?

Visit:  ‘the gallery on the corner’, 34 Northumberland St, Edinburgh, EH3 6LS

'In the Flow Country, Sutherland'

‘In the Flow Country, Sutherland’

It’s a busy and exciting time to be in Edinburgh at the moment, but if you’re already getting a little over ‘festivalled’ and are seeking something a little different to do, why not visit ‘the gallery on the corner’.   In this small contemporary gallery, set on the corner of Northumberland St and Dundas Street, just a short walk from the city centre, you’ll find a wonderful selection of work by a broad range of artists.  It’s the perfect place to get away from the rush of the city and to enjoy some new and different art …..and maybe buy yourself something special.

 I’ve been showing work at ‘the gallery on the corner’ since it opened in 2010 and as patron to the gallery I am, of course, going to be a little biased.  That said though, every time I visit the gallery I always get a really good feeling about it.  It’s bright and welcoming and friendly ….and above all, there’s always a really interesting and exciting selection of work to see.

 Here are images of the three paintings I currently have at the gallery, but to see the full range of artists work available, take a visit to the gallery itself.

'Low tide, Harris'

‘Low tide, Harris’

'On the Pentland Hills, March'

‘On the Pentland Hills, March’

Visiting the Gallery

The gallery is open from Tuesday to Saturday, 11.00am to 5.00pm

 ‘the gallery on the corner’

34 Northumberland St, Edinburgh, EH3 6LS

Tel:   0131 557 8969

“Please note that the gallery does not have wheelchair access. There are seven steps down into the gallery making wheelchair access difficult, however if you contact us prior to visiting we will do our best to accommodate you.”

To learn more about this great little gallery and to see images of some of the other artists work, you can visit their website:

http://www.thegalleryonthecorner.org.uk/

Gallery On The Corner - Map

Gallery On The Corner – Map

‘Snow shower, on the slopes of Ben Loyal, Sutherland’

266-snow-shower-on-the-slopes-of-ben-loyal-sutherl-acrylic-pastel-2013-76-x-23-cm

‘Snow shower, on the slopes of Ben Loyal, Sutherland’

 ‘Snow shower, on the slopes of Ben Loyal, Sutherland’, Acrylic & Pastel, 2013, 76 x 23 cm

Back in May as you may recall, we had two great days walking on Ben Loyal in Sutherland.  On our first attempt at getting to the top of this wonderful hill, we decided to turn back just a few hundred feet below the main broad ridge.  The reason for this was that there was a sudden change in the weather, from bright and sunny to cloud and snow.  The snow showers came in very quickly and for a short while we had some amazing views through the falling snow up to the main ridge above.  I did one 30 x 30 cm painting based on this scene, after we returned from our holiday in Sutherland and this piece sold recently at the Christmas exhibition at The Strathearn Gallery in Crieff.   I have however been planning to do a second version in the long 76 x 23 cm format.  This is it.  This painting is away being framed at present and will be included in my exhibition at ‘the gallery on the corner’ in Edinburgh throughout March.

‘On Blackmount, December afternoon’

‘On Blackmount, December afternoon’

‘On Blackmount, December afternoon’

 

 

‘On Blackmount, December afternoon’, Acrylic & Pastel, 2012, 30 x 30 cm

If you read the blogs, you’ll know that we were out walking Ghlas Beinn on the edge of Rannoch Moor just a couple of weeks ago.  The light and colours gave the mountains of the Blackmount great atmosphere.  This painting, still in progress, is my first attempt at trying to capture some of the mood of the place that afternoon.  I’m planning to start several more while the memories are still fresh in my mind.  I may well work on some new drawings too …I really like the contrast between the snow covered mountains and the dark heather and grass covered moor lands below.  If this painting is completed successfully, I’ll be exhibiting it in my exhibition at ‘The gallery on the corner’ in Edinburgh …..make a note in your diary …the preview is March 1st and the exhibition will run until the end of the month.

Getting the work into place

'Towards the eastern shores of Loch Lomond, spring'

‘Towards the eastern shores of Loch Lomond, spring’
Now available at Blairmore Gallery, £285

As we’re now getting towards the run-up to Christmas it’s been important that I get work in place with the galleries that show my paintings.  Last week as you know, we delivered paintings to the Framework Gallery in Troon and The Strathearn Gallery in Crieff.  This week started with a visit down to the Waverley Gallery in Prestwick to collect two new paintings that they’d framed for me.  As well as getting work out to galleries, it is important that I also have a good selection of work on the walls in my studio.  As you know, when I’m working at the Courtyard Studios, visitors are always welcome ….if you live in the area please do feel free to call in…..these newly framed paintings are already hanging on the studio wall.

On Wednesday we travelled up to Blairmore Gallery near Dunoon.  It really wasn’t a beautiful day and we drove in low dark mist and rain most of the way.  Strangely though there wasn’t any wind and the ferry crossing was very calm.  When we arrived we got a warm welcome from Sylvia and Steve and a cup of their excellent coffee too.  I left three of my small ‘postcard’ sized paintings with them this time, hoping that these small pieces might be seen by someone as a good special little gift ….fingers crossed.  As usual you can get information on Blairmore Gallery by clicking on the link in the ‘Galleries that show my work’ section at the side of this page.

‘From the slopes of Beinn Griam Beg, Sutherland’
‘Now available at ‘The Gallery on the Corner’ £620

Yesterday we did the trip through to Edinburgh to deliver a couple of replacement paintings to ‘The Gallery on the Corner’.  In the last couple of months they had kindly sold two pieces of mine and so I was keen to give them a couple of replacements.  When we arrived the gallery was looking splendid.  Paul and his gallery staff had been working very hard to get it ready for their latest exhibition ….the preview was in the evening.  The work on display looked so fresh and interesting ….this gallery is so worth a visit …there are some beautiful pieces of work on display.  Again, you can get details of the gallery by clicking the appropriate link at the side of this page.  If you live in Edinburgh and want to see some examples of my work, then ‘The Gallery on the Corner’ is the one place where you’ll see it in the city.

'On Ben Lui, winter'

‘On Ben Lui, winter’
‘Now available at my studio. £420

Interestingly both Blairmore Gallery and The Gallery on the Corner have asked me to hold an exhibition with them next year ….so that’s two things to look forward to.  I’ll post full details of these exhibitions once dates are finalised.  In the meantime however, both galleries have a small selection of my paintings to see.

Our final trip won’t take place until the end of next week.  I’ve arranged to travel down to Kirkcudbright to change over the work I have at The Scottish Showcase Gallery.  I’m not quite sure which pieces I’ll be taking but I’ll get full information to you in the next couple of weeks.  Now though, it’s time to get back to the studio and enjoy some more actual painting.  Hope you can get along to see my work at one of the galleries or my studio.  If you’re planning to visit the studio, give me a quick call first to check I’m not out walking on a hill!  You can contact me on: 07742 437425.

A day of small drawings

'Canisp & Suilven, Assynt', Graphite on wood, 2012, 148 x 210 mm

‘Canisp & Suilven, Assynt’, Graphite on wood, 2012

As the title suggests, today has been a day of graphite pencils rather than paint and brushes.  It has made a good change and I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my few hours at the studio.  Yesterday I started playing around with a few ideas for drawings about Ailsa Craig and spent my last hour in the studio scribbling in a sketch book.  I quite liked one of the small drawings and today decided to try and do another version …..this time using a graphite pencil on board.  It made for some very nice marks and after doing one I got into it and over the next few hours did another three small pieces in this manner.  One of them based on the idea of looking across to the hills over on the Isle of Arran and the other two based on sketches I did up in Assynt a few years ago.

2 'Ailsa', Graphite on board, 2012, 148 x 210 mm

‘Ailsa’, Graphite on board, 2012, 148 x 210 mm

It is surprising what interesting marks can be made working onto wood as opposed to paper and in a similar way that the pastels I use pick up the surface of the paint, here the pencil picked up the small ridges in the primed surface. I was using a fairly soft graphite pencil most of the time – 6B, but for finer marks I worked with a 2B.  Each of the drawings are quite small …just A5 size and I may include several of these in a local exhibition next month.  The exhibition organiser asked especially for small pieces at the lower end of the price range.  I’ll post full details about this in a few weeks time.

'Assynt skyline', Graphite on board, 2012, 148 x 210 mm

‘Assynt skyline’, Graphite on board, 2012

Of course, now I’ve done these small pieces I’m already wondering quite what a larger piece would look like done in the same way?  As I already have several boards cut that are either 60 x 60 cm or 80 x 80 cm, I’ll probably try something at this size.  However, I’m getting a vague thought that perhaps something considerably bigger might work really well …perhaps 90 cm wide by 160 cm high.  Using the same scale of mark as the small pieces would be very time consuming on a large area but would be very interesting.  If I do try something like this then I think I’ll have to buy myself a good audio book to listen too while I’m drawing.

When I was in Speyer two years ago I worked on a fairly abstract painting that was I think 80 x 140 cm and I scribbled very fine marks into the whole of the surface.  This took me a couple of days of very slow work …and I was thankful there of having a good book to read while I worked.  Oh well, I guess it’s just a case of watch this space ….I’ll hopefully have time to try something like this soon.

'Across to Arran', Graphite on board, 2012, 148 x 210 mm

‘Across to Arran’, Graphite on board, 2012

I’ve just heard from ‘the gallery on the corner’ in Edinburgh that they’ve just sold one of my 76 x 23 cm paintings.  As they also sold one of my 30 x 30 cm pieces not long ago, I’ll have to get some replacements to them soon.  I have work going to The Strathearn Gallery for their Christmas Exhibition as well as several pieces going to The Framework Gallery in Troon for their pre Christmas exhibition too.  As I say, full details of both of these exhibitions soon ….the point is, that I’ll have to get a few new small acrylic and pastel pieces done ….it’s all go…..but very enjoyable!

 

‘Early spring, above Drumochter’

'Early spring, above Drumochter'

‘Early spring, above Drumochter’,

‘Early spring, above Drumochter’, Acrylic & Pastel, 2011, 80 x 80 cm

Thought I’d use this painting as the work of the week seeing that it is currently hanging in ‘The gallery on the corner’ in Edinburgh.  If you go to this week’s blog you’ll see that the gallery has been celebrating ….the first five apprentices at the gallery have successfully completed their two year training.  These young people, along with the staff have helped make sure that this very special gallery is a success.  If you haven’t visited yet and live in Edinburgh then why not get down and take a look.  More info at: http://www.thegalleryonthecorner.org.uk/

All smiles at ‘the gallery on the corner’

'the gallery on the corner'

‘The Gallery on the Corner’

If you’ve read these blogs over the last couple of years you’ll know that I’ve been involved, albeit to a very small degree, in ‘the gallery on the corner’ in Edinburgh. The gallery, which was set up by Autism Initiative, Scotland, has a dual purpose….. to operate as a professional but ‘inclusive’ gallery exhibiting and promoting the work of artists affected by autism or other health issues, whilst at the same time providing a real working environment in which young people affected by autism can train and learn genuine work based skills and gain a recognised qualification.

‘The Gallery on the Corner’ opened in April 2010 and a few months prior to this I had been invited to act as patron. I first visited the gallery while the builders were still busy but was instantly impressed by the professionalism and real enthusiasm of the team who had been tasked with the rather daunting job of establishing this new and rather special art gallery in Edinburgh’s main gallery district. When I arrived on the day of its launch, I knew that the right people were at the helm, the gallery looked fantastic, bright and modern and with a fantastic selection of work, all exhibited to a very professional and high standard. The gallery employed five apprentices working on either the retail side, (upstairs with the public) or on the artistic side, honing their skills as artists in the studio / work areas downstairs below the gallery.

It is now just a little over two years since the gallery opened and on Wednesday last week there was cause for celebration ….the first five apprentices had all very successfully completed their training, (both in the work place and at college) and it was time to present them with their certificates. It was an emotional time for all at Autism Initiative Scotland and especially those working at the gallery and it was fantastic to see how well the trainees had done …indeed, one of the trainees has already had a number of important commissions and his work has received much interest and media coverage.

For me, it has been a real pleasure to be involved with the gallery on the corner, to watch the progress and to see the very successful completion of the first cycle of apprenticeships. I try and visit the gallery several times a year, to attend exhibition previews, to deliver or collect work, or simply to call in for a chat. The very high standards set at the start have been maintained and I think this gallery offers something special for the gallery goer. …the work is of a high standard but it often has something you don’t always see …a bit of an ‘edge’. It obviously takes a bit of time for folk to ‘find’ a new business, especially in the gallery rich area in which it’s located, but from what I hear, I think people are starting to realise that the gallery on the corner offers something a little bit different. If you live in Edinburgh and haven’t visited the gallery yet, then I would strongly recommend that you do so.

Finally I have to add my congratulations to the five trainees, whose hard work has made this very special gallery a success. My congratulations too, to all the people involved in establishing and running the gallery, especially the gallery manager Susie and her two assistants Paul and Rob ….they’re all seriously good at their jobs.

For further information about ‘the gallery on the corner’, visit: http://www.thegalleryonthecorner.org.uk/