I was a free-range child brought up in Lossiemouth on the north-east coast of Scotland, free to play on the beaches and roam in the woods near my gran’s. At home I was immersed in the colours and textures of my mother’s craftwork – there was always knitting on the table – and my father’s passion for traditional folk ballads evoked a moving landscape in my mind. From as early as I can remember, I loved drawing; I might have forgotten to have breakfast or put on my shoes, but I never ventured anywhere without a pack of crayons and scraps of paper. Paddling in rock pools, building forest dens and getting stuck on trees introduced me to the local wildlife; limpets and hermit crabs, shrews and rabbits, sparrows and crows, red deer and squirrel.
My work
Whenever I read words, an image comes to mind; yet images offer a glimpse of what can’t be expressed in words. I admire how early Renaissance artists painted to tell stories, often drawn from classical Greek and Roman myths or Biblical tales: I like drawing to capture atmosphere, using colour to pull you in, and then appreciate detail and texture.In Aesop’s fables, in Native American beliefs, in the Aboriginal Dreaming, in all cultures, people have projected human qualities upon animals.
Drawing animals give an immediate connection to a preconceived image that the artist can develop into a character and portray life experience common to us all. And I am fascinated by how people relate to images, developing stories of their own.
I hope you enjoy my website.
I was interviewed by photographer Aly Wight. You can read the full interview on his blog.
Curriculum Vitae
Education
Selected Solo Exhibitions
Selected Group Exhibitions
Private Collections
Previous Commissioning Clients
Awards and Residencies
Articles and Books
Education
1992-1996
BA(Hons) Fine Art – specialising in printmaking Gray’s School of Art, Aberdeen
1991-1992
Foundation Course in Art and Design Aberdeen College of Commerce, Aberdeen
Selected Solo Exhibitions
2015
A Pageant of Tudor Birds and Beasts – The Red Dot Gallery, Holt, Norfolk
2012
A Visual Treasury – An exhibition of illustrations from An Illustrated Treasury of Folk and Fairy Tales, The Storytelling Centre, Edinburgh – Invited artist as part of the Scottish International Storytelling Festival
2010
Nine Lives – An exhibition of work inspired by T S Eliot’s Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats, The Red Dot Gallery, Holt, Norfolk
Celebrating Scotland’s Stories – The Scottish Storytelling Centre, Edinburgh
2008
A Bestiary from Folklore and Legend – The Red Dot Gallery, Holt, Norfolk
2007
Unravelling Silk Road Yarns – Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh
2006
In the Shadows of Shahrazad – Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh
2004
North Edinburgh Art Centre – A Retrospective Exhibition
2002
Feather Mantle and Seal Skin, The Netherbow Storytelling Centre, Edinburgh – Invited artist as part of the Scottish International Storytelling Festival
2001
Beyond the Ripples, The Royal Lyceum Theatre, Edinburgh – An exhibition of work based upon the theme of water within Scottish Folklore
2000
Under the Seal Skin, The Firth Gallery, Edinburgh
1999
The Monkey’s Tale, Elgin Library Gallery, Elgin
A Summer Dream, The Royal Lyceum Theatre, Edinburgh – Based upon themes from Shakespeare’s plays
Selected Group Exhibitions
2014
The Red Dot Gallery (Dog Show), Holt, Norfolk
2013
The Red Dot Gallery, Holt, Norfolk
2012
The Red Dot Gallery (Best in Show), Holt, Norfolk
2011
Animals in Art Auction, Paris
Bergh Apton Sculpture Trail, Norfolk
2010
Aspect Prize Exhibition, Paisley Institute of Fine Art, Paisley
The Red Dot Gallery, Holt, Norfolk
2009
Leith Gallery, Edinburgh
The Red Dot Gallery, Holt, Norfolk
Mainhill Gallery, Harestanes, Scottish Borders
The Affordable Art Fair, Mainhill Gallery, London
2008
Aspect Prize Exhibition, Paisley Institute of Fine Art, Paisley
Leith Gallery, Edinburgh
Harrogate Art Fair, Harrogate
Frames Gallery, Perth
2007
Mainhill Gallery, Harestanes, Scottish Borders
The Red Dot Gallery, Holt, Norfolk
Leith Gallery, Edinburgh
2006
Drawing Stories, The Scottish Storytelling Centre, Edinburgh
Image Nation, Collins Gallery, Glasgow – An exhibition of contemporary Scottish Illustration
2005
Highland Artists, Kilmorack Gallery at Cork Street, London
2004
Glasgow Art Fair, Glasgow
Kilmorack Gallery, Inverness-shire
Mainhill Gallery, Festival Exhibition, Edinburgh
Penicuik Art Centre, Penicuik
2003
An Exhibition for Mid Winter, Gallery 27, London
Thompson’s Marylebone Gallery, London
Mainhill Gallery, Festival Exhibition, Edinburgh
Royal Glasgow Institute of Fine Art Postcard Exhibition, Glasgow
Leith Gallery, Edinburgh
2002
Kilmorack Gallery, Inverness-shire
Leith Gallery, Edinburgh
The Affordable Art Fair, London
Mainhill Gallery, Festival Exhibition, Edinburgh
The Royal Scottish Academy Annual Exhibition, RSA, Edinburgh
Glasgow Art Fair, Glasgow
Kilmorack Gallery, Inverness-shire
National Scottish Arts and Crafts Competition, Arbroath
2001
Kilmorack Gallery, Inverness-shire
Royal Glasgow Institute of Fine Art Annual Exhibition, Glasgow
The Affordable Art Fair, London
Art Edinburgh, Edinburgh
Glasgow Art Fair, Glasgow
Art of Paper Fair, London
2000
Kilmorack Gallery, Inverness-shire
The Red Dot Gallery, London
Visual Art Scotland Annual Exhibition, Edinburgh
The Paisley Art Institute Annual Drawing Exhibition, Paisley
The Homes and Garden Fair, with The Red Dot Gallery, London
Private Collections
Seven Stories Centre, Edinburgh
The Scottish Storytelling Centre
Moray District Council
Coopers and Lybrand
Grampian Hospital Art Trust
The Royal Lyceum Theatre, Edinburgh
Gray’s School of Art
Previous Commissioning Clients
Woodland Trust
Walker Books
Frances Lincoln Books
Floris Book
Random House
Learning and Teaching Scotland
The Royal Lyceum Theatre, Edinburgh
Theatre Workshop, Edinburgh
The Scottish Storytelling Centre, Edinburgh
Grid Iron Theatre Company
Awards and Residencies
2008
Visual Arts Award: Edinburgh
2006
Two month Apprenticeship at the stained glass studio of Vetrate ArtisticheToscane, Siena, Italy sponsored by the Scottish Arts Council – Studied processes and techniques involved in stained glass window making
2005
Scottish Arts Council Professional Development Award – Grant was used to fund an apprenticeship at Vetrate Artistiche Toscane, Siena, Italy
2005–6
Six month Artist in Residency post at the Scottish Storytelling Centre – The Residency coincided with the refurbishment of the new Scottish Storytelling Centre and comprised of three main responsibilities which are described below. Producing a series of images illustrating the Early Scottish Celtic, Legends which are displayed on a History of Scottish Storytelling Wall, Designing and producing a back drop cloth for a small, intimate storytelling area, conducting a course of children’s workshop in which we explored and developed images and texts inspired by local mythology – the final work was displayed at an exhibition in the Centre.
2003
The Elizabeth Greenshields Award
Three month Residency at Hospitalfield House, Arbroath sponsored by the Royal Scottish Academy
1996
Residency at Peacock Printmakers’ Workshop, Aberdeen sponsored by Coopers and Lybrand
1995
Three month Residency at the Ecole des Beaux Arts, Nantes, France
Articles and Books
2015
Illustrations for “An Illustrated Treasury of Scottish Mythical Creatures” by Theresa Breslin, published by Floris Books (20 August 2015), Edinburgh
2014
“Over the Hills and Far Away: A Treasury of Nursery Rhymes from Around the World” by Elizabeth Hammill, published by Seven Stories and Frances Lincoln Books (2 October 2014) – one of 76 featured international illustrators
2014
Chapter heading illustrations for “Ghost Soldier” by Theresa Breslin, published by Random House (31 July 2014)
2013
Illustrations for “Celeste, Who Sang to the Stars”, one of ten featured stories in “The Book of Bedtime Stories”, published by Mumsnet and Walker Books (3 October 2013)
2012
Illustrations for “An Illustrated Treasury of Scottish Folk and Fairy Tales” by Theresa Breslin, published by Floris Books (12 July 2012), Edinburgh
2008
Featured artist in “The Dog: 5000 Years of the Dog in Art” by Tamsin Pickeral, published by Merrell Publishers Ltd (1 Sep 2008)
2004
Project featured in The Scottish Educational Journal, December issue
1996
Profile in The Scotsman, Saturday 3rd January