The great thing about art is it provokes all kinds of different responses. Part of the endless fascination with it is its vastness, presenting itself in many interesting and inventive forms. From oil on canvas to sound installations, there is a piece of art out there for everyone. But how do you incorporate it into your life? There are many more ways to enjoy creativity than simply hanging a print. Thanks to the variety of styles and movements, there are kooky ceramics, hand-painted pottery and far-out rugs that reflect taste and express individuality. In the following pages see what appeals to your art-loving side – open it up and let the affair begin.
ART GUIDE
Katie Schwab’s quilt is part of Reduct: Abstraction and Geometry in Scottish Art at RSA Lower Galleries, Royal Scottish Academy, The Mound until 22 November 2020
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MEET THE MAKER Interview Catherine Coyle
Amanda Simmons Glass artist
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IMAGE: COLIN HATTERSLEY / UPLAND CIC
“S
cotland has been my home for more than 15 years now. I love this land and its people. It has provided me with many opportunities to get on with my career, with an extremely well-supported craft sector and a deeply knowledgeable public. Making is very much still embedded in the psyche here in Scotland, which has given me a lot of insight into the whys of making. Dumfries & Galloway is full of creatives. Moving here allowed me to escape city life but still be linked to great cities and be part of the region’s booming craft sector. It means I’m able to have a workshop at home, so no commuting time or costs, and it gives me space to work on my glass designs and build a business with a great deal of support available. I grew up in Kent and my practical/design skills have come from my parents – my mum making exquisite, many-tiered wedding cakes, and my dad being able to make anything or think through any technical problem. I left school at 16 to do an engineering apprenticeship with BT. I’ve always enjoyed taking things apart and fixing them, but electronics wasn’t for me. Instead, after a degree in pharmacology and toxicology, I became a clinical perfusionist (running the heart-lung machine for cardiac operations), working in hospitals for eight years in
[Above] Amanda Simmons with one of her ultra-lightweight glass birds. The respirator equipment she’s wearing offers protection against glass dust. [Top left] A couple of vessels from her Southern Hemispheres collection
and around London. At 30, I made another radical career change. It all happened very quickly after a week’s intensive stained-glass course. I’d always wanted to be an artist but up until that point I hadn’t found my medium. I started studying kiln-formed glass at Westminster College and then followed this up with a postgraduate certificate in glass & architecture at Central St
“I’D ALWAYS WANTED TO BE AN ARTIST – I JUST HADN’T FOUND MY MEDIUM” Martins. It has turned out to be the longest-running career I’ve had, perhaps because there is no such thing as a typical day in this job! My work is made in response to exhibitions or gallery requests, so I do have many days preparing ideas and samples, reading and carrying out research. I’ve been developing an international practice over the last seven years, so I’ve had the chance to travel a lot and experience other glass centres around the world, teaching and taking up residencies. The latter have been incredible – I’ve had four great artist residencies in the past nine years. These intense periods of working have often supplied me with enough material for several years’ worth of work. Through Lyth Arts Centre in Caithness, for instance, I worked with scientists at the Environmental Research Institute in Thurso looking at the regeneration of the Flow Country and the risks to seabirds in the Pentland Firth from turbines on the sea bed. More recently, my work has been inspired by my travels across Australia. The body of work Southern Hemispheres is a celebration of seeing the world from another perspective and how the light from a different angle changes what we see. I work most days, since I love what I do. It is so varied, but I do make time throughout the week to get out into the lush countryside when it isn’t raining. I cycle, run and paddleboard across the region, soaking up inspiration as I go. I spent time during lockdown developing online teaching courses via Zoom. Teaching has actually been an unexpected bonus of this career. I started with six-year-olds at craft club at Gracefield Arts Centre in Dumfries, and now I travel to America and Australia teaching my specific glass techniques. My glass manufacturer produced a video showing one of the
[Above] North Lands, a large kiln-formed platter inspired by the rugged coastline and landscape of Caithness. [Below] Flow, a pair of kiln-formed glass vessels
ways I work with glass. It has turned out to be a great source of income during the past couple of years and has enabled me to make exactly what I want. I don’t accept many commissions but one I’ve been working on lately has been very rewarding; it’s become more like a patronage. The client was given a retirement present of some commissioned art and she chose me. She came to see my work and studio to get an understanding of my techniques. I showed her some work in progress – I was trying to develop superlightweight glass birds. It’s not a very commercial idea as they’re so fragile. She was taken with the birds and we’ve had a dialogue since on the progression of these ideas. When it’s safe to do so, a flock of small birds will appear on her wall.”
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ART
VISION QUEST
Can’t find the perfect artwork for your home? Do as these owners did and commission exactly what you want
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Photography Steven McLaren Words Gillian Welsh
hen Sachin and Aikta Amin got in touch with Habitus Design, they were thinking about adding an extension to their Edwardian villa in Glasgow’s Jordanhill. Their discussions with designer Anna Campbell-Jones, however, showed them that it would make more sense to reconfigure what they already had, freeing up their budget to be spent on enhancing the interiors. The plan they settled on was to fill the place with colour and give each room its own distinct ambience, connecting the various spaces through the use of a cheerful, broad palette of dark blue, pale pink, mustard, copper, turquoise and black, along with stripes and floral patterns, all reflecting the owners’ lifestyle and culture. The hallway was a key part of the scheme. The owners thought they’d have to get rid of the old Anaglypta panelling, but Campbell-Jones instead painted it in Farrow & Ball’s Stiffkey Blue, instantly taking it from dated to contemporary. “Everyone who visits thinks it’s new,” she says. If the owners’ feared moody grey-blue walls would make the hall feel cheerless, the designer’s reasoning reassured them: “Painting it dark really enhances the sense of airiness in the rooms off it, which are light.” Dorset Marron tiles from Wickes add a traditional note, and look as if they could be the original floor. To complement their new bold hall, the owners wanted an equally bold painting – something that would have meaning for them and tie in with the renovation’s aesthetic. They came across the work of Nikki Chauhan on Etsy and immediately felt a connection with her bright, punchy abstracts. They got in touch with the California-based artist and commissioned a big piece based on the colours in the newly decorated hallway. “She was able to accommodate the size we wanted – 155cm x 125cm,” say the couple. “She also kept in touch throughout and when it was ready she shipped the picture as a rolled package. It was stretched at 2Canvas in Glasgow, who then delivered the finished item to our door.” Now taking pride of place in the hall, the painting’s blues, reds and yellows
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The hall is a blend of traditional and modern, with Dorset Marron floor tiles from Wickes and a stair runner by Thomas Witter, custom whipped in turquoise wool. The painting was sent from California rolled up and was stretched expertly by 2Canvas
ART HOUSE Anna Campbell-Jones shares her top tips on buying art and showing it off • Don’t overthink your choices: buy pieces you love and let them tell the story of who you are – that will be the connecting thread. • Create a gallery wall that mixes up framed postcards, photos, ‘real’ pieces and kids’ drawings. Start with the biggest in the middle and arrange the others around it. • Rehang your art from time to time. You’ll see it afresh in a different room or juxtaposed with other pieces. • It is NOT a rule that art looks best on a white wall. Hung on coloured walls, it will really pop if it’s well framed. • Art does not need to match your interior. A bit of contrast is exciting. • Lastly, art doesn’t need to be expensive to be stunningly good. Buy from local creatives to ground your home in its context and to support up-and-coming talent.
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ART
[Right] Bright, colourful and laden with meaning, Nikki Chauhan’s painting makes a striking statement against the hall’s Anaglypta panels newly painted in Farrow & Ball’s Stiffkey Blue
“Art should feed your soul and give daily pleasure to you and people visiting. It’s an act of generosity to create this experience for your friends” are an exuberant depiction of the Hindu god Ganesh. The elephant-headed deity, worshipped as the remover of obstacles, symbolises new beginnings – which is fitting for the entrance to a home. Connecting the colours and tying in with the themes of the decoration, the canvas offers visitors a preview of what else they will find in this house. It also says something about the people who live here. “It’s joyful, just like the Amins,” smiles Campbell-Jones. Art, in her view, “can lead or follow – it’s entirely case specific. You might design a room to create the perfect setting for a cherished artwork, or, like the Amins, commission a piece to suit the interior after it’s complete.” She rarely gets involved in choosing artwork for her clients since they’ll often have an existing collection to work with. One of her favourite moments, she says, is going round after a job has been completed with her hammer, hooks and spirit level to help hang the clients’ art. Here, next to the painting, is a gallery wall of family photos
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that will be extended over time as the Amins’ two children grow up. The two styles are clearly very different, as is the scale of the work. But the contrast is effective: “It means each installation can hold its own without competing for attention.” A big painting like this could have dominated its surroundings, but in fact the deep, rich setting allows its brightness to sing out without overwhelming. It is nevertheless a talking point that attracts the attention of all who visit, from guests to delivery men, and their kids wave a casual ‘hi’ every time they walk past. The Amins love that their eyes are drawn to it as soon as they enter the house, and every time they walk down the stairs. They wanted the picture to be enlivening, but they were after meaning, too, and they got it: its links to Hinduism symbolise the culture at the forefront to their home. All of this echoes the designer’s sentiments: “Art should feed your soul and give daily pleasure to you and people visiting. It’s an act of generosity to create this experience for your friends.”
Wood and Wool is an idea created to allow us to share with you our unique handmade collection inspired by the materials we use and the way in which we enjoy uniting these materials together to produce bespoke pieces for your home.
We are after all Wood and Wool Contact: ȉȮȮȴȏ ȁȮȍȮȟȮ Facebook: woodandwoolatthestudio www.wood-and-wool.co.uk
OUR BRICKS & MORTAR SHOP IS OPEN 7 DAYS. DISCOUNTS FOR STUDENTS, MEMBERS OF ART CLUBS & ART GROUPS SHOP ONLINE FOR MAIL ORDER OR CLICK & COLLECT
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Fresh new gallery space showcasing artists & makers from Fife & beyond. Under new ownership. Now with in-house creative framing service by Foursticks Framing. Re-launching with 20:20, an exhibition of paintings by Scottish artist Rona Hyslop.
Art. Gifts. Interiors Please see website b i ffor opening i h hours & visitor i i info. sungallery.co.uk suncurator/ High Street, t N Newburgh. ewburgh b rgh h Fif Fife. ife K KY14 Y14 1 6DZ 6DZ. T T: 013 0133 01337 3 842323
SPECIALIST SHIPPERS OF FINE ART & ANTIQUES Our Service Centres are now open for customers and following safety guidelines. • • • •
Fragile, large or awkward – wherever in the world it needs to go Affordable, customised crates that deliver art works safely International & UK delivery services Cover against loss or damage
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53 Elm Row, Leith Walk, Edinburgh EH7 4AH edinburgheast@packsend.co.uk www.packsend.co.uk/edinburgheast
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news
ART
UPCOMING SHOWS AND ARTISTS TO KNOW
Period PeriodpiecepieceSynonymous Synonymouswith withmini miniskirts, skirts,nude nude lippy lippyand andkohl kohleyeliner, eyeliner,Mary MaryQuant’s Quant’s fashion fashionlegacy legacyendures enduressix sixdecades decadeson. on. The Thefeminist feministfashion fashiondesigner designerenjoys enjoys aaretrospective retrospectiveatatDundee’s Dundee’sV&A V&Athis this winter winterbut butbook booktickets ticketssoon soonthe theshow show isisselling sellingfast. fast.Until Until2121January. January. vam.ac.uk/dundee/exhibitions/mary-quant vam.ac.uk/dundee/exhibitions/mary-quant
Glass act Pinkie Maclure had a successful career as a musician and songwriter before retraining in architectural stained glass in 2013. Her medieval creations tell stories, much like her music, and three of her latest pieces can be seen in the flesh at Beauly’s Kilmorack Gallery. kilmorackgallery.co.uk
Story board A trained architect, German-born artist Hilke MacIntyre uses her signature ceramic wall plaques to depict figurative scenes. She also works with wood and linocuts, and creates illustrations in her own distinctive style. 21 November to 23 January, galleryq.co.uk
Colour code We all know the impact colour can have on our frame of mind, so an uplifting mixed show, focusing on bright, mood-enhancing works by some of the biggest names in Scottish art, sounds just the tonic. Pop in to see paintings by Jack Morrocco (pictured) and Alison McWhirter and be instantly energised. morningsidegallery.co.uk
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ART NEWS
Big change Digital artist Michael Murray takes a new direction this season. Becoming a father and experiencing different ways of living through lockdown are important themes in his latest work, such as 3 Highland Drive, four details of which are pictured below. michaelmurrayart.com
Glasgow gains Book Booknow nowfor foraarare rarechance chanceto tosee seework work by byFlora FloraMacdonald MacdonaldReid Reid(pictured), (pictured), John JohnLavery Laveryand andBessie BessieMacNicol. MacNicol. Dubbed Dubbedthe theGlasgow GlasgowBoys Boysand andGirls, Girls, this thistrailblazing trailblazinggroup groupof ofScottish Scottishartists artists eschewed eschewedacademy academypainting paintingin infavour favour of ofrural ruralcontemporary contemporaryscenes scenesof ofthe the late late19th 19thcentury, century,forming formingthe thebasis basisof of modern modernScottish Scottishpainting. painting.
The view from here Gregor Smith returns to Glasgow’s Compass Gallery with new works that capture the beauty of the Scottish landscape. Drawing on field trips to the Torridon mountains, Machrihanish Bay and beyond, his oils, woodcuts and etchings do justice to the nation’s brooding scenery. The whole exhibition can be viewed online.
Until Until1515November. November.berwickvisualarts.co.uk berwickvisualarts.co.uk
compassgallery.co.uk
Flower power Adapting to new ways of working, artist Kirsty Lorenz has expanded her online shop. She is still producing new pieces from her railway station studio in the East Neuk, and has been busy developing a collection of wood engravings alongside her signature nature paintings. kirstylorenz.com
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THE WINTER EXHIBITION 7 NOVEMBER 2020 - 9 JANUARY 2021
An eclectic mix of original paintings, beautiful objects and unique gift ideas for Christmas, from some of the best artists and makers in the country.
GEOFF FORREST
View the collection online, or visit our Kirkcudbright gallery
ELLIS O’CONNOR
ANNA COOK
JACKIE HENDERSON
THE WHITEHOUSE G A L L E RY
ERRAID GASKELL
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SARA BOR
WWW.WHITEHOUSEGALLERY.CO.UK
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MARGARET EVANS ART
One of Scotland’s leading contemporary artists, internationally renowned for her collectable, atmospheric work of Scotland, Italy & beyond. Represented by many top Scottish galleries.
Exhibitions throughout 2021 in Scotland Facebook/Margaret Evans, Instagram/Margaretevansart, as well as website margaretevansart.com. Work can also be viewed by appointment at artist’s studio in Comrie, Perthshire PH6 2JY T: 01764 670060 E: info@shinafoot.co.uk
margaretevansart.com
A LEADING SCOTTISH ART SCHOOL IN EDINBURGH <($5 /21* &2856(6 _ 6+257 &2856(6 _ 6800(5 6&+22/ NEW SHORT COURSES FOR JANUARY 2021: Â&#x2021;6HHLQJ DQG 5HDGLQJ $Q LQWURGXFWLRQ WR DUW FULWLFLVP DQG FRQWHPSRUDU\ WKHRU\ RQOLQH OHFWXUH VHULHV
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Leith School of Art, 25 North Junction Street, Edinburgh, EH6 6HW www.LeithSchoolofArt.co.uk | 0131 554 5761 | Enquiries@LeithSchoolofArt.co.uk
FIDRA F I N E ART ! Ă&#x2DC; Ă&#x2122; Ă&#x2122; * Ă&#x2DC; Graeme Wilcox - Night Cycle, Oil on Canvas, 120x90cm
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Jackie Anderson, Jennifer Anderson, Henry Jabbour, Angela Repping & Graeme Wilcox with sculpture from Alejandro Lopez
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7-8 Stanley Road (Main Street), Gullane, East Lothian EH31 2AD. Tel: 01620 249389 www.ďŹ draďŹ neart.co.uk Please refer to website for opening hours and further details.
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ART NEWS
A Astar starisisborn born Showcasing Showcasingemerging emergingart-world art-worldtalent, talent, Wondering WonderingPeople Peopleisisaacurated curatedonline onlineshop shop selling sellingphotography, photography,ceramics, ceramics,painting paintingand and textiles textiles––perfect perfectfor foranyone anyonelooking lookingto toexpand expand their theirart artcollection collectionwith withsomething somethingaalittle littlebit bit diff different. erent.wonderingpeople.com wonderingpeople.com
In fashion Our taste for mid-century modern shows no sign of abating; from furniture to fashion, its impact lives on. Edinburgh’s Dovecot Studios celebrates the movement, its art and design with an extensive ticketed show featuring the work of Eduardo Paolozzi, Laura Ashley, Terence Conran (above) and more. Until 9 January. dovecotstudios.com
Seasonal selection Bringing together artists and makers both established and emerging, the winter show at Kirkcudbright’s Whitehouse Gallery combines Christmas gifting with serious art collecting. See works in a variety of media, including paintings by recent graduate Erraid Gaskell (pictured). 9 November to 7 January. whitehousegallery.co.uk
Just an illusion This is the second solo show at the Fine Art Society in Edinburgh for Robert Powell, and a timely one, too. In Phantom Things, the artist explores the dystopian environment created by society’s compulsion with collecting and consuming. His unsettling and thoughtprovoking works are reminiscent of Goya. Until 21 November. thefineartsociety.com
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ART WORDS FIRST PERSON
Satisfaction Upon the Heath, 2020
SHAUN McLAREN Born in Stirling and trained at Gray’s School of Art in Aberdeen, the designer, animator, illustrator and sculptor specialises in working with found objects and on various digital platforms
M
y ‘rust’ illustrations, of which Satisfaction Upon the Heath is an example, are in many ways a product of lockdown. Having previously worked with found objects to produce sculptures, I was forced to think of new ways of making art since I couldn’t travel to look for materials. So I began photographing my collection of driftwood, metal objects, drain covers and other street furniture in order to create digital images. This illustration was created in May using pieces of driftwood I’d previously collected at West Kilbride beach as well as rust textures discovered on my daily walks. At the time of putting this image together, the reality of lockdown living was beginning to take its toll on my household. This led me to thinking about the different ways in which people have dealt with difficult situations in the past and how, when things got really bad, situations were resolved – sometimes with no winners. I wanted to create a visually striking image with strong, bright colours to counteract what could be seen as a dark and menacing image rather than this one which, I like to think, is a humorous comment on these strange days.
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Craft Week Scotland Monday 9 – Sunday 15 November
Makers: Natalie J Wood, Rebecca Wilson, Karolina Baines Photography by Susan Castillo
A celebration of Scottish contemporary craft Discover Scotland’s talented makers and vibrant craft destinations during Craft Week Scotland in November. A new experience from Craft Scotland spotlighting makers and sharing what’s happening across the country in-person and online including Christmas gift ideas, craft stories and a series of panel talks.
www.craftscotland.org @craftscotland #craftweekscotland
298 Portobello High St Portobello Edinburgh EH15 2AS 07835 813689 velveteasel.co.uk art@velveteasel.co.uk Thurs to Sat 10 – 5 | Sunday 12 – 5
View our unique collection of hand-crafted, bespoke, luxury furniture online. Rahoy l East Brims l Forss l Thurso KW14 7XU T: 07747 421768 www.keithcoghillfurniture.com
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BOOKS
1 THE MOTHERHOOD OF ART
2 WILHELMINA BARNS-GRAHAM
This new publication is less an art book and more a warm hug of encouragement for anyone who has ever tried to balance child-rearing with a creative job. More than 30 mother-artists contribute, sharing advice, offering support and describing how they carve out time to make art. Among them are the authors themselves, painter and surface pattern designer Marissa Huber and artist Heather Kirtland, who kick-started the book after completing a project making art every day for 100 consecutive days. The Motherhood of Art is a gentle, informal look at strategies to help women keep on making art – and why that matters.
Art books can sometimes be a wee bit intimidating: if it’s not on an artist or style you’re familiar with, chances are you’ll either feel overwhelmed or underwhelmed. This look at the work of Scottish artist Wilhelmina Barns-Graham, however, goes some way to dispelling the myth that art is inaccessible. By putting together an approachable, easy-to-read book about one of our largely unsung heroes, author Virginia Button gives us a great insight into Barns-Graham. A key player in the St Ives Modernists, she was less well known than her male counterparts, but this concise and engaging look at the artist’s life and work shows exactly why she is now so highly regarded. £15, Sansom & Co
£28.99, Schiffer Publishing
3 CHERRY HILL This is photographic artist Jona Frank’s fourth book – a multimedia memoir charting her suburban New Jersey childhood through essays and photos. It’s an unsettling read, detailing her family troubles – a difficult relationship with her mother, and a brother who suffered mental ill-health growing up. Reminiscent of a graphic novel and shot in a striking cinematic style, the imagery is vibrant and evocative. Adding to the cinematic feel is Oscar-winning actor Laura Dern, who takes on the role of Frank’s mother. But there’s a chilling hollowness to the photography – Frank captures the tension of the time and readers can feel the tangible pressure she felt as a young girl looking to find her place in the world. £36, The Monacelli Press
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list
Art collides with family dynamics and interpersonal relationships in this issue’s selection of inspiring, beautifully illustrated books Words Catherine Coyle
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4 PABLO PICASSO: THE IMPOSSIBLE COLLECTION Curated by the artist’s granddaughter (her mother, Maya, is Picasso’s elder daughter), Pablo Picasso: The Impossible Collection presents one hundred of the great master’s most significant works. Regarded as the most influential artist of the 20th century, Picasso’s work is as recognisable as it is covetable, but what art historian Diana Widmaier Picasso does is to put into context the breadth and complexity of her grandfather’s oeuvre. Handcrafted within a limitededition linen clamshell case, this is a beautiful volume both inside and out for a serious collector with a Picasso passion. £695, Assouline
5 CECILY BROWN What makes this new publication so absorbing is its deft blend of sublime photographs of Cecily Brown’s paintings and the artist’s own words to help illuminate this body of world-class work. Brown lived and studied in London before relocating to New York in her mid-20s, where she now has a studio and an international following. The move to America opened up her work, she writes, allowing her a freedom of expression that she didn’t have in Britain. She also pays tribute to the influence the work of her mother (award-winning Scottish novelist Shena Mackay) has had on her art. Set alongside personal reference points, Brown’s paintings come alive, inviting viewers to fall under their spell. £35, Phaidon
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