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Art inspired by Scotland Justin and Carina Prigmore
Artists Justin and Carina Prigmore
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by Artists Justin and Carina Prigmore
Husband and wife artists Justin and Carina Prigmore are both inspired by the dramatic Scottish landscape but have found their own unique way of capturing this magical place. ‘We have travelled and painted in a lot of spectacular places, but Scotland has captured our hearts’ say the artists. Throughout their lives they have always been drawn to wild places and have lived in the Rocky Mountains and Northern Sweden. They have ventured through Canada, Alaska, the Alps, and the wonderful game reserves of East Africa in search of inspiration but have made Scotland their home for the last twenty years. ‘There’s something so special here and I’m not quite sure what it is but it has brought out the best in our art’ says Justin. ‘The stunning, rugged scenery and the ever-changing atmosphere are obviously a big part of the attraction but there’s something more. Perhaps it’s the combination of human history and the ancient nature of this place – whatever it is, it works!’ Justin is originally from Wales and Carina from Sweden. They met in the US in 1996 and this where their artistic journey began together. They now live in the Highlands outside Grantown-on-Spey with their two daughters and a Labrador. Both are full-time artists and they have just built their dream studio where they paint side by side creating very different interpretations of the Scotland that surrounds them.
Justin is an ecologist by training and has worked in nature conservation for many years including as a Biodiversity Officer for the Cairngorms National Park Authority. It is this naturalist’s eye that has led him to portray the wild creatures that he observes in the places he visits and all around him. Art has become a way for Justin to explore and then hold on to his experiences in nature. Scotland has been pivotal in making his transition from a career in conservation to one in art. People who own and manage the land in Scotland have become big supporters of his work. He is often commissioned to paint scenes from estates in the Highlands and beyond and it is a role he relishes, for a number of reasons.
‘Scotland is made for painting and I love the opportunity to capture something new, be it red deer in the rut on a Sutherland hillside or a capercaillie lekking in an ancient stand of Caledonian pine. But being an artist has also allowed me to meet so many fascinating people, who I would otherwise never get the chance to meet’. These people are often business leaders and extremely successful at what they do, all of which provide some very valuable life lessons for Justin. ‘I’m conscious of some of the perceptions that exist about wealthy and especially absentee landowners, but from my experiences I see it positively. These owners are so passionate about Scotland and that’s infectious’ says Justin. Scotland is fortunate to be able to attract people that are willing to invest large sums of money into improving and maintaining these estates. ‘I thoroughly enjoy working with people who love this country and during our conversations I often find they are deeply committed to finding ways of improving the environment and creating a legacy for a better Scotland, one that can respond to the climate and biodiversity emergency that we face’. ‘I see that as a crucial part of my role. Through my combination of artistic and scientific backgrounds, I hope I can work with landowners to help find solutions that improve the Scottish landscapes while celebrating the beauty and traditions that make this country such a world-class destination,’ states Justin. Carina’s atmospheric and moody landscapes are inspired 14
Scotland in Four Seasons Winter
by her Scandinavian roots and her interest in interior design, but it is the wildness of the Scottish Highlands that enthuses her to paint. She spends lots of time walking and being in nature and her paintings are often based on memories or feelings of a place that she hopes the viewer will relate to. Although the Scottish weather can be challenging, it’s the ever-changing elements that create the mood that is essential for her paintings. ‘Being surrounded constantly by this landscape makes painting here a very natural process as I can create a more immediate response when I go into the studio. I hope that this shows in what I create and that the viewer will connect emotionally and really feel the place.’ Carina said.
The seasons in Scotland are so distinct and each offers different opportunities for the artists. These changes feature strongly in Carina’s work and inspired her first solo show “Following the Seasons” at the Frames Gallery in Perth in 2018. Carina is especially drawn to the Strathspey area with its mix of open landscape and the more forested areas. She often uses water in her paintings to lead the viewer into the scene and this area is famous for its many beautiful lochs and rivers. In winter, a particular favourite spot is the Insh Marshes. ‘This amazing wetland offers everything I need to create a painting with a mix of trees and wet areas set against the snow-capped Cairngorms in the background,’ said the artist.
For Justin, winter is also an inspirational time. ‘I love to get up on the high ground when we have snow and search out ptarmigan. They are among my favourite species to study and they lend themselves so well to being painted against the rugged crags of the Cairngorms. White on white presents a beautiful challenge, but unlike most Scottish wildlife, you are able to get really close and watch how they interact with each other and their environment. As an ecologist who paints, that’s the perfect situation’. His knowledge of wildlife is what sets his work apart. His collectors be they sportsmen, conservationists or just art enthusiasts are captivated by his ability to just get it right – something that only comes from spending lots of time observing his subjects. This connection has led to his work being included in collections across the world and in some of the most prestigious homes as well as public and private museums.
After such a strange year as 2020, it’s difficult to make many plans for the year ahead. The main thing will be to focus on producing their best work. ‘That’s one of the best things about being an artist – you can just shut the world away and live in your own little bubble,’ says Justin. He loves painting on a large scale and the new studio allows an almost unlimited opportunity for this. The first painting he did when the building was complete was an 80-inch canvas of grouse hurtling towards the viewer. ‘I’m not that interested in detail, what I want to capture is the bold energy of being there. Going big allows me to do that in a way that feels like you could just walk into the canvas’.
As well as continuing to work with his clients on commissioned pieces, Justin hopes he will be able to show his work at some Game Fairs in the summer of 2021, after the disappointment of all being cancelled last summer. Carina will start the new year by creating a body of work for a solo show at the Kilmorack Gallery in Beauly that will open in late spring. The studio at their home is open to visits by appointment. Further details can be seen at www.prigmoreart.com and on social media @carinaekdahlprigmore and @justinprigmoreart
Biographies
Award winning artist Justin Prigmore was born in 1974 and has a master’s degree in Ecology. Justin has exhibited his work internationally in prestigious juried shows and galleries and his work can be found is some very prominent collections worldwide. He has exhibited with the Society of Wildlife Artists and was elected a signature member of the Society of Animal Artist in the USA. His work is represented by the House of Bruar Gallery in Perthshire and the Rountree Tryon Gallery in Petworth and London. He is a trustee of the conservation charity SCOTLAND: The Big Picture. Carina Ekdahl Prigmore was born in Sweden in 1973. She has a diploma in Art & Design and a BSc Honours in Conservation Biology. Her work has been exhibited at the Bennington Centre for the Arts in Vermont, USA; Mall Galleries in London and in the Affordable Art Fair in Hong Kong with Panter and Hall. King & McGaw is publishing her work and five of her paintings were selected by John Lewis department stores as part of their print collection. Her work is represented by Kilmorack Gallery in Beauly, Panter & Hall in London, Morningside Gallery in Edinburgh, Frames Gallery in Perth, Strathearn Gallery in Crieff and the Iona House Gallery in Woodstock.
THE TRAVELLING AUCTIONEER
Glasgow based Sheldon Cameron gives Scotland in Four Seasons an insight into his glamorous role as an Auctioneer. From county to county he travels throughout the year in search of the ‘Golden Egg’
“220, 240, 260, 280..........if your all finished then at £280?” The gavel is raised, WHACK! “Sold for £280.”
Scotland in Four Seasons talks to Sheldon Cameron, a Glasgowbased Auctioneer with an eye for treasure and a love of the Scottish outdoors. We asked Sheldon, what is the life of an auctioneer like? “Ah, the life of an auctioneer, looking at priceless works of art in magnificent country houses with the portraits of the owner’s ancestors looking down on me and taking in every word I say about the precious item I’m valuing.”
Castles and Stately homes
“Well not quite! That is the general perception people seem to have of an auctioneer, driving to castles and stately homes throughout the Highlands with majestic deer cavorting in the heather, but alas most appointments take me to a secluded house off the beaten track, miles from anywhere, where the sat nav is hit and miss and a mobile phone signal is a distant memory and the ‘antique’ that has been in the owners possession for generations turns out to be an item from the 1960’s and worth very little! Oh well maybe the next appointment will bring unseen treasures to light?”
Life on the road
“Having spent over three decades as an auctioneer, l too feel like an antique some days. Being based in Scotland’s largest city, my appointments take me all over this beautiful land, from Bettyhill in the frozen North to Campbelltown in the sweltering South, the islands
that pepper the rugged west coast to the, not to be forgotten, mystical far East of the granite city.”
Excitement and anticipation
Sheldon said, “it is never dull valuing items for sale, divorce, insurance, probate and inheritance purposes to dealing with the solicitors, the general public and major institutions. Every phone call can possibly unearth a treasure trove or a dusty bygone.”
Country shows and Game Fairs
“Working in Scotland for the past eight years has been wonderful. There are many outdoors events in my annual calendar I enjoy attending in a professional capacity. The first one of the year is The Royal Highland Show, followed by The Scottish Game Fair at Scone and then the ever popular Highland Field Sports Fair at Moy. I share a stand with the Scottish Countryside Alliance, and you never know who you are going to meet and what they will want valued and then eventually sold at auction.”
Christmas for the Auctioneer
“One memorable occasion was a client I met at one of the shows. They wanted a valuation of the part contents of a castle. Wow! I thought suits of armour, full size snooker table, a plethora of taxidermy, family portraits, silver, the wine cellar and oodles of furniture. I could hardly contain my excitement, just like a child waking up on Christmas day and running to see all the brightly wrapped presents around the tree.”
Auctioneer Sheldon Cameron in action with his gavel at Mulberry Bank Auctions, Glasgow.
SET OF J & R GLEN OF EDINBURGH BAGPIPES The rosewood turned pipes with white metal and ivorine mounts, with a leather pipe bag and tartan cover, together with an ebonised turned wood chanter marked P. Henderson of Glasgow. Sold for £800
Communication is king
“The client and I exchanged phone call after phone call, emails a-plenty over the late summer that rolled into autumn. Our communication continued, the months rolled on, and then autumn slipped by and became the start of a very cold and white infused winter.”
On a winter’s night
“After months of phone calls, and appointment was made, Sheldon told us, “with a new set of winter tyres on my trusty Subaru, I set off from Glasgow one December morning. It was only me and a few hardy souls on the eerily quiet Great Western Road listening to my sat nav direct me on my lengthy journey onto the A9 North to the Cairngorms. With tricky driving conditions and erratic drivers to negotiate I made it to my destination: a truly picture-perfect Scottish castle with a long steep and winding drive with pheasants, deer and red squirrel darting through the snow. After a successful appointment with the goods consigned for sale, I headed South and homeward bound, with a minor detour to take in the wonderful winter Highland scenery and to purchase supper for one.”
Opportunity knocks
“The following January a few days before Burns Night, with the weather most foul, I received a phone call from a lady with a large warehouse full of ‘stuff. The word ‘stuff’ is used a lot nowadays. The building was located near the M8 somewhere towards the Capital, so off I set following the trusty, or so I thought, sat nav.”
The golden egg
“After the very long and scenic route, I arrived at the coldest building in Scotland, with the snow still falling, to be greeted by all the props from the follow-up Trainspotting film, T2. I had found the ‘golden egg’ at last, with the contents of the pub to the complete bar, the contents of Spud, Renton, Sick Boy and Begbie’s flats and houses.
Fishing for compliments
“Diane’s solicitors office furniture, the contents of the jail cell and interview room, the lock up and every other item now immortalised on the silver screen.”
Media coverage
“Needless to say it was a fantastic auction, generating massive media interest in The Times newspaper, local papers, radio and television and culminating in me being invited to the premier screening. Not bad for a general enquiry phone call.”
Countryside at heart
“I have always had a leaning towards hunting, shooting, and fishing for compliments. I attended the Royal Agricultural College, now University, but it will always be a college in my mind.”
First love
“I helped with the running of my parents farm and had all my polo ponies to look after. I enjoyed occasional forays hunting and running the enormously successful clay shoot, called The Oxford Shooting Ground. These pursuits have always been my first love, so when an appointment occurs with any related items to value, as the Proclaimers say, ‘I’m on my way, aha, aha, aha!’”
Scottish outdoors
“An office bound job was never going to suit me, especially with the glorious Scottish countryside around me. On the infrequent time to myself, I like nothing better than to pull on my trusty boots and traipse up a hill or munro, but the older I get, some days a mole hill looks challenging.”
Old age, old knees
“My knees took a pounding through polo over the years. If the weather and my knees are against me, then a trip to one of Scotland’s many museums is in order. I do enjoy a day on the river, rod in hand while being eaten alive by pesky midges and swearing to myself because I forgot the midge spray and hat with a net!”
A wee dram
“Once back on terra (dry) firma a wee dram is in order. I am usually spoilt for choice because we are one of the original and largest whisky auctioneers in Scotland. We are also the first auction house to conduct cask
sales. With recent highlights being the sale of a cask of Da Mhile Organic Springbank for £88,750 and a bottle of the much sought-after Dalmore for £19,000.”
It’s all about the legwork
“As ever, with these and all auctions, a lot of leg work is carried out, researching and not forgetting, sampling of the casks along with verification of strength and levels. These are then sampled at our private tastings prior to the well-attended sales.”
“Going, Going, Gone!”
Do you have any antiques or old ‘stuff’ you’d like valued?
Sheldon Cameron has been an auctioneer for many years and is happy to conduct valuations across Scotland.
www.mulberrybankauctions.com
Ice Pancakes
Ice pancakes are a phenomenon where discs of ice are formed creating floating lily pad-like slices on the water’s surface. The ice pancakes can range from 20 -150cm wide. Alan Scott was Grayling fishing on the River Nith, Drumlanrig in December’s freezing conditions hoping for more than frost bite. Alan photographed this rare formation before he carried on fishing. Grayling are known for feeding in the coldest conditions. Read more about Alan’s photography on page 52.
