Scotland - the Artist's View

1 June to 1 July 2008

For a fresh perspective on Scotland, it is wonderful to see the country through the eyes of artists. In June we regularly hold exhibitions on the theme of “the sea” but this year we are looking more broadly at Scotland. Landscape painting has continued to excite artists despite being unfashionable in recent years. Scotland's unique landscape, its hills, moors and mountains, lochs and coastline continue to inspire some of the best Scottish art. There is a growing number of artists who exhibit regularly south of the border and internationally, whose work is seen as highly collectable. This is an eclectic collection of landscapes, seascapes and more. Artists include David Body, Dorothy Bruce, Kirstie Cohen, Gillian Goodheir, Irene Halliday, Wendy Houston, Amaryllis Johnston, D.E.Johnston, Sonas Maclean, Duncan Macleod RSW, Donald Murray, James Orr, Barbara Robertson, Danny Ross, Patricia Sadler, David Smith, Andrea Stubbs, Marion Thomson, Maggie Williams, Jim Wylie and Georgie Young.

"More than 25 painters ... make this a dynamic show full of life, colour and, of course, familiar scenes.  But few people would recognise the Cairngorm Ski Runs as captured by Amaryllis Johnston.  This striking large painting hangs above the fireplace ...and almost divides itself in half with its dramatic dark blue and orange colourway.  Johnston's highly alluring, commanding pictures can be found throughout the exhibition. 

Less prominent but nonetheless evocative are Irene Halliday's smaller muted paintings and the realistic deftly handled wintry scenes of D.E.Johnston.  

There is so much colour in this show that Paul Ritchie's dark, hugely textured works like Sutherland Falls act like cool shadowy retreats.  ...His works have a vigorous surface tension and a sense of place that you can almost smell.  They also possess a grandeur and a gravity that is difficult to balance but Ritchie pulls it off with masterly displays of intense technique.  His thrilling works make a welcome and fascinating addition to this exhibition."
Roddy Phillips, Press and Journal.