Fiona Strickland: Strictly Botanical at The Park Gallery

theparkgallery

Callendar House, Callendar Park, Falkirk FK1 1YR

Strictly Botanical curated by Fiona Strickland

10th November 2014 -17th January 2015 Admission Free Falkirk Community Trust gratefully acknowledge the support of Falkirk Council.

www.falkirkcommunitytrust.org | the park gallery

theparkgallery ground FLOOR Callendar House Free Admission

Strictly Botanical Fiona Strickland

10th November 2014 -17th January 2015 The Park Gallery is a contemporary visual arts and crafts gallery situated in Callendar House, a handsome Georgian Building amongst a magnificent park and woodland. The Park Gallery is best known in Central Scotland for its contemporary programme of high quality thought provoking and at times challenging exhibitions by local , national and international artists. It also offers a programme of workshops and gallery talks often led by the exhibiting artists and makers for most of the scheduled exhibitons.

Mon to Sat 10am-5pm.

Last admission 4pm.

Callendar House, Callendar Park, Falkirk FK1 1YR www.falkirkcommunitytrust.org 2

Fiona Strickland is an internationally renowned botanical artist and her paintings are regarded as among the best in the field of botanical art available today. A graduate of Edinburgh College of Art, her paintings sit comfortably among the upper echelons of the genre and are much sought after by institutions and collectors alike.

Fiona’s success has led to her being commissioned for a number of interesting projects: - in 2013 she created 39 meticulously detailed food illustrations for ‘How to boil an egg’ – a collection of simple and unusual recipes by renowned English chef Rose Carrarini; and - in 2014 her stunning poppy image featured in the first set of stamps issued by the Royal Mail in its five-year programme to commemorate the First World War. The programme of stamps aims to tell the stories of War through a range of imagery, including newly-commissioned artworks of poppies from leading artists.

Strictly Botanical is an exhibition curated by her which brings together a stunning collection of botanical watercolours and works in pencil by a dedicated group of artists passionate and committed to documenting plants in minute detail. We are delighted to exhibit work by Fiona including her original painting of the Royal Mail stamp along side internationally renowned botanical artist, Robert McNeill and specially invited guest botanical artists, Sharon Tingey, tutor at The Royal Botanic Gardens Edinburgh and recent recipient of an R.H.S. Gold Medal, and Mary Dillon, recent recipient of a Diploma with Distinction from the Society of Botanical Artists and Chair of the newly formed Irish Society of Botanical Artists.

In recent years some of the artists in the group have exhibited in London with the Society of Botanical Artists in their annual exhibition at Westminster Central Hall, receiving Associate membership of the Society, winning awards and comment by renowned botanical art commentators.

Displaying a variety of individual styles within the same genre this exhibition brings together botanical paintings which are not only botanically correct but informative, educational and above all wonderful works of art.

Robert McNeil: Rodgersia podophylla

Fiona Strickland: Papaver, June poppy

Sharon Fox: Corn

Sharon Tingey: Helianthus annuus: American Giant - Seedhead

Mary Dillon: Beetroot Beta vulgaris

Victoria Braithwaite: Peony, Canna House Garden

www.falkirkcommunitytrust.org

Royal Mail Commission: Poppy - The Great War Stamp Program 2014-2018

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I was contacted about the Great War Stamp Program

by Gareth Howatt of the London based design company Hat-trick Design Consultants.

He said his reason for selecting me to paint the Poppy was that he had been impressed by the emotive content of my painting, Papaver, June poppy.

It really struck me that he’d responded to my painting in that way, because although it is the aim of a Botanical Artist to record plants accurately, sometimes for scientific purposes; the emotive content in my botanical painting is an important element for me and that my painting had communicated this to him. It seemed fitting because my commission would involve such an emotional content.

Actually I was quite taken aback at just how strong my emotional bond with the project was and how symbolic each stroke of the brush became.My overwhelmingly emotional response and connection to the symbol of the poppy throughout the painting really focused my thinking on the immeasurable sacrifices made and the suffering endured by all those involved in the Great War. It made me so much more conscious than I had ever been before of the enormous physical and emotional suffering of the individual, their fears, courageousness and sacrifices and I wanted to make sure I did them justice.

continue to keep alive the knowledge of what the poppy stands for and what it means as a symbol of war.

It is hugely important that it commemorates a war that changed the course of history in which so many men and women lost their lives, they must never be forgotten.

I was and am deeply grateful and hugely honoured to be asked to take part in marking the commemoration of this event by Royal Mail.

"

For me it is not important that the painting is recognised for the technical skill involved in the painting of it. Rather I hope it would

“The art of botanical painting continues even in the face of enhanced photographic technology and the digital revolution for there is simply no substitute for the discerning talents of the artist capturing the essence of plant form” Professor Peter R Crane FRS Director of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Excerpt from his foreword to the Art of Botanical Painting

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Stamp design © Royal Mail Group Ltd 2014

www.falkirkcommunitytrust.org | the park gallery

TALKS AND ACTIVITIES

To book tickets for any of these events or workshops please call 01324 506850 or visit the steeple Box Office, High Street, Falkirk.

Talk by Fiona Strickland

Artists at Work

PARK GALLERY, CALLENDAR HOUSE

PARK GALLERY, CALLENDAR HOUSE

SATURDAY 29 NovEMBER 11am - noon

Saturdays 22 November 6 & 20 December 10 January 2015

Free

An informal talk and walk through the exhibition with the opportunity to ask questions.

Talk by Alison MacLeod

FREE

Botanical artists from the exhibition will be in the gallery demonstrating the detailed observational techniques used in the creation of a botanical watercolour. Visitors will be able to observe artists at work and see first hand this unique method of watercolour painting in action.

Painting Workshops GREEN ROOM, CALLENDAR HOUSE

19 November 10.30am – 11.30am

£5 Illustrated talk with tea/coffee and cake Ali MacLeod is a botanical illustrator and garden designer. She trained at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Edinburgh and regularly teaches and writes on the History of Botanical Art for RBGE. From medieval herbals to contemporary painters, this introduction to botanical illustration discusses its progression both as a fine art form and as a beautiful scientific record. Alison will cover some incredible stories of how some of the most memorable illustrations were created highlighting the passion and sacrifice made by many early pioneers in botany. She will also reveal the scientific innovations and cultural fashions that influenced the medium and how the art form became a means of financial and intellectual freedom for many courageous women in times when science was almost exclusively a man’s world.

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Education suite, Callendar House

Mondays - 10, 17, 24 November, 1, 8, 15 December 1.30pm-4.30pm

Cost £120 per participant for 6 weeks Includes Tea/Coffee and cake Victoria Braithwaite is a Scottish-based botanical artist and an award-winning associate member of the Society of Botanical Artists. Her approach to her work is more artistic than scientific. She enjoys finding more unusual specimens and playing with scales for dramatic effect.

Join Victoria to learn painting inspired by nature and seasonal change. This six-week course of half-day workshops will focus on autumn fruits and berries, but a wide range of material will be available. Open to all levels.

Participants have the option of bringing their own paints and brushes but materials, including paper, will be provided.

the park gallery | www.falkirkcommunitytrust.org

Coming Soon Three Rivers Meet by Ruth Nicol 31 JanUARY to 26 April 2015

Langholm, Hugh MacDiarmid 2014 Ruth Nicol Acrylic on canvas 2x3M

Ruth Nicol is a Scottish Contemporary landscape artist based in Edinburgh. In her exhibition Three Rivers Meet she is inspired by Alexander Moffats ‘Poets’ Pub’, and investigates the landscapes of the seven great Scottish poets; Hugh MacDiarmid, Edwin Morgan, Norman MacCaig, Sorley Maclean, George MacKay Brown, Robert Garioch and Ian Crichton Smith.

The Park Gallery will offer a unique opportunity to see all of these epic paintings together which have been described by Moffat as "...intrinsically optimistic works, essentially curious, comprehensively exhilarating".

Box Office, High

Fiona Strickland e estiv

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- exclusive merchandise -

Pop - Up Shop

In association with the Park Gallery The Pop Up Shop will showcase some of the great talent we have in the Falkirk area. So whether you are looking for a special Christmas gift or a treat for yourself you’re sure to find something special.

Green Room, Callendar House

Saturday 29 Nov 10.30am - 4pm | Free Entry

This range has been exclusively produced

by Falkirk Community Trust under license granted by Fiona Strickland.

We are delighted to be collaborating with her for the first time.

Callendar House shop. 10am - 5pm.

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Stirling/Glasgow Falkirk Grahamston Train Station

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Falkirk Football Stadium A9

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Estate Avenue Falkirk High Train Station

Callendar House & theparkgallery

Polmont Train Station

M9

Getting here By car: From Edinburgh: Follow M9 westbound. Exit at Junction 5 and follow brown and white tourist signage for Callendar House & Park From Glasgow: Follow M80/ A80 eastbound. Join M876 (signposted Kincardine Bridge, Falkirk, Grangemouth). Merge onto M9. Exit at Junction 6 and follow brown and white tourist signage for Callendar House & Park

From the North: Follow A9/M9 south. Exit M9 at Junction 6 and follow brown and white tourist signage for Callendar House & Park Free Parking: The car park is accessed via Seaton Place (past the high flats, across from the row of cottages). Additional parking available at Estates Avenue

By train: Falkirk is served by 2 railway stations, Falkirk High and Falkirk Grahamston For train timetables call National Rail Enquiries: 08457 48 49 50 By bus: For details of bus travel to Falkirk contact Traveline Scotland: 0871 200 22 33

Disabled parking available in front of Callendar House

Tell us about your visit on TripAdvisor www.tripadvisor.com/reviewit Callendar House and theparkgallery Callendar Park, Falkirk Tel: 01324 503770 Email: heritage@falkirkcommunitytrust.org www.falkirkcommunitytrust.org Open all year: Free admission Monday–Saturday 10am–5pm Sunday (April–Sept only) 2pm-5pm

Booking for events and workshops should be made through our central box office: The Steeple Box Office, High Street, Falkirk FK1 1NW Tel: 01324 506850 Email: arts@falkirkcommunitytrust.org Open Mon – Sat 09:30am – 4:45pm

www.falkirkcommunitytrust.org /Falkirkheritage or /falkirkarts

@Falkirkcultural

arts heritage libraries fitness sport parks outdoors Falkirk Community Trust gratefully acknowledges the support of Falkirk Council Charity number SCO42403. Paper Stock FSC Approved