A botanical artist exhibits…

I am currently having my first solo show with a gallery, the Open Eye Gallery in Edinburgh. What a time to have a show! I was awarded this exhibition in February 2019 at the Visual Arts Scotland Open Exhibition ‘Alight’. Little did we know what was in store in October 2020!

As this year has progressed and Covid has become one of the most used words in our lives, I downsized my opening night from an unknown number – to 8 – to 4 (including myself and my partner). I made plans to meet friends at the show over the duration, re-made plans to meet them after their viewings at a local restaurant, and now have re-made plans to maybe get a coffee somewhere outside…

The Open Eye Gallery has done a wonderful job with photo and video promos via their website and on social media, this has been wholly kickstarted by the pandemic and the need to show what’s within their walls to a larger public who can not attend the show.  I went in to discuss the inspiration for the show and a bit about my process and how I work. I thought that you might like to see it.

See the virtual exhibition and watch the video >>

I am delighted to announce my first gallery show – see below or events for details!!!

I am a botanical artist, which means I paint plants… for exhibition, and also for scientific journals and for commission. In 2019 I put some of my work into the Visual Arts Scotland Open exhibition Alight – and I was awarded an exhibition by The Open Eye Gallery, a very prestigious gallery in Edinburgh – WOW!

Late last year, having met with the Jilly and Michelle of the Open Eye, I started work on a series of pen and ink illustrations using Japanese ink paste. I planned to illustrate the exotic Arisaema that I grow in my garden in Edinburgh. Roll into March and lockdown hit! What to do? Well it seems that I was super lucky to have a deadline to work towards because it really gave me a focus, and the results of that focus will be on display in the gallery in a weeks time.

It has been a sometimes frustrating game over the last 6 months, of initially second guessing potential restrictions and then realising that really we have had to just keep planning, but plan to be flexible, something I have learned from the many plants that I have worked with – adapt and keep going!

With no Private Views, and limited access to the gallery, I have fingers and toes crossed for a positive result, but even having a show in a global pandemic is an achievement and the Open Eye Gallery are doing a fantastic job with virtual viewings and the exhibition available via their website – so I’m pretty happy all round :)

Even if you can’t visit, you can have a look online, www.openeyegallery.co.uk as well as my new ink illustrations there are also watercolour paintings & screenprints.

6th – 24th Oct, Tues – Fri: 11 – 5, Sat: 11 – 4

The Open Eye Gallery are making it very safe to visit by appointment only, with hand sanitiser in the gallery, face masks must be worn.

Book: 01315571020 or [email protected]
34 Abercromby Pl, Edinburgh EH3 6QG

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I have two pieces in the new Visual Arts Scotland show at the RSA Edinburgh Gallery on the mound in Edinburgh. This is very exciting, again a new opportunity for me as a botanical artists to have my work on show alongside contemporary artists and craftspeople, and a fantastic opportunity to be viewed by visitors to the prestigious gallery on the Mound.

I’m very much looking forwards to the show which opens this Saturday the 26th January and runs until the 22nd February.
The pieces that I have entered are a continuation of the ink works that I have been creating to document the growing Ariseama shoots that I grow in my garden. I love these new plants they look so ‘other’ in their developmental stages.

To see a bit more about the show and the amazing work which has been selected and curated for it please visit the VAS site.
www.visualartsscotland.org/exhibition/alight

At the RSA Edinburgh Gallery on the Mound

I have been fortunate to be selected to have two of my fern paintings included, along with some smaller pieces in the 30cm x 30cm category.

It was a bit of an experiment sending botanical illustration to a contemporary open, and I am over the moon to have been selected. If you would like to see my Dryopteris sieboldii and Dryopteris affinis alongside many other fantastic contemporary works, and for an inspirational treat, head along to the RSA between the 17th December and the 17th of January.

The exhibition comprises painting, printmaking, sculpture, installation, video and performance art featuring established and new artists based in Scotland and internationally.

Royal Scottish Academy Edinburgh
23 Dec 2018 – 17 Jan 2019, Mon-Sat: 10am – 5pm
Sun: 12pm – 5pm
CLOSED 25 & 26 DEC
1 Jan: 12pm – 5pm
Entry: £2, SSA Members FREE, children and young people FREE
For more information visit the SSA website

I have been along a few times this week as a “tell me what to do and I’ll do it” body* helping with the set up and I am very excited to be included and I can’t wait to see all the work up on the walls and installed!

I am currently in the last stages of preparation for my first solo exhibition, which will be commencing on: Friday 3rd August at the Pittenweem Arts Festival 2018 (Venue 26, 4 West Shore). It runs from the 4th to the 12th, 10am – 5pm.

I’ve tried to anticipate how much I will need, I have originals, prints and cards, so fingers crossed it’s all going to work out.

Here is a piece from one of the sets of work that will be on display, I worked on the lifecycle of 5 different Arisaema, this one Arisaema costatum goes through such beautiful stages in its life cycle, I have worked on illustrations of the tubers, the growing shoots unfurling and then the plant in flower and in fruit.

I’m excited to see how my work looks hung altogether as a whole, but slightly worried that botanical illustration might not fire too many folks buttons… the proof will be in the pudding!

Fingers crossed, I hope to see some of you there :)