There’s a flow to mounting an exhibition, a pattern of highs and lows and the bits in between.
From the start to the end of an exhibition, I feel hopefulness and excitement, creative risk, vulnerability and doubt, pleasure from sharing what I make, joy in connecting with people through the work. There’s praise and criticism, intense activity and hours of frustration and occasional, moving glimpses of strangers falling in love with my artwork. That’s a whole pile of emotions there!
So it’s never as simple as just putting things on a wall
Anne Gilchrist, Kirsty Venters Marks, Tansy Lee Moir, Jennie Tuffs and Cordula Marks Venters have spent the last four seasons discovering some of the stories and secrets of West Lothian’s foremost ancient woodland, Calder Wood.
They have interpreted what they found in the wood from their own individual perspectives, exploring it from their differing cultural and historic viewpoints and considered the perspectives of the non-human world and how these ancient, complex relationships can be read in the landscape.
‘These works help us to look beneath the surface of what we see to understand the layers of human and non-human relationships more deeply.’
Catalogues for sale from the Visitor Centre £8.
Supported by Jane Begg, Tree and Woodland Officer and Kirsty Morrison, Country Park Ranger, West Lothian Council.
Calder Wood Artists Walk
Sunday 14th January 2024 10.30-1pm
Join some of the Calder Wood artists and Ranger Kirsty Morrison on this gentle walk around West Lothian’s foremost ancient woodland. Hear about how it inspired their new work, see some of the special places they found there and stop to share poems, stories and memories along the way.
Meet outside the Fork & Field pub Mid Calder from 10.15am (what3words ///knees.bounding.older)
Outdoor clothing and sturdy footwear recommended. Paths are uneven, steep in parts and may be muddy. Bring a flask if you wish for refreshments. Please note there are no toilet facilities in Calder Wood.
In the case of bad weather, the walk will be rescheduled to Saturday 20th January.
For this collection of new work the artists have interpreted what they found in the wood from their own individual perspectives, exploring it from their differing cultural and historic viewpoints. The works here also consider the perspectives of the non-human world and how these ancient, complex relationships can be read in the landscape.
‘These works help us to look beneath the surface of what we see to understand the layers of human and non-human relationships more deeply.’
The show encompasses vibrant colour, intricate detail, poetic imagination and dark drama. It aims to reveal some of the tiny marvels and big mysteries to be found amongst these trees.
There will be an Artist Talk with all artists on Thursday 23rd November, 6.30-8pm. Free, book here»
I will be in the gallery for informal ‘meet the artist’ opportunities on Saturday 11th November 10am-12noon and with Kirsty and Cordula on Sunday 10th December 12-2pm.
We are also planning a woodland walk – join my Studio News for details.
Visitor information
Linlithgow Burgh Halls are fully accessible and open to the public every day 9am-5pm.
The exhibition is free to visit and the Halls are a 5 minute walk from Linlithgow train station on the Edinburgh-Glasgow line.
This autumn I have work showing alongside some stunning artists in this unique gallery space. Art is best experienced in person of course but if that’s not possible, take a look around this 360 degree tour created by gallerist Tony Davidson.
‘Conversations with Trees’
Runs from 2nd – 30th September at the Kilmorack Gallery, near Beauly, Inverness-shire
Imagine driving three hours through the rain to an old limewashed church in a quiet Highland glen, then stopping to find a giant spider guarding the entrance to an art gallery filled with creatures conjured from scrap metal parts. Then, just as you duck under the arachnid and approach the doorway, picture yourself being baptised in a drive-by puddle incident. True story.
This was my first, slightly surreal experience of Kilmorack Gallery near Beauly. It’s a beautiful building with a reputation for excellent art and I’m delighted to be one of its newest artists.
I’m very pleased that my charcoal drawing ‘Cascade’ was selected for the Drawing (Paper) Show at Bridewell Studios in Liverpool this summer. It was chosen from an international open call to be included in this exhibition and publication of contemporary drawings.
The Derbyshire stone walls of The Old Lock Up Gallery are now hung with beautiful art celebrating trees and our relationships with them. Gallerist Rachael Pinks has taken a bold step in a new direction for her gallery, curating this themed exhibition through an open call to draw in new creative talent. I’m very happy to have been one of the 32 artists selected.
I have 5 works on show, 4 paintings from my ‘Grounded’ series and one of my ‘Rivers of Oak’ charcoals.
The gallery is open 25th June – 5th August, open Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays 10am – 5pm and there are a series of related events planned -check the website or Instagram for details.
I recently did a short residency in this lovely gallery space which you can see more about here.
Two of my oil paintings will be featuring in The Old Lock Up Gallery Open Exhibition opening 14th May and running until 10th June. I was very pleased to be selected to show in this beautiful gallery space along with 31 other artists – I’m looking forward to seeing all the works chosen by gallerist Rachael Pinks.
See here for a full list of artists, venue and show details.
On the horizon for autumn 2023 is a group show which I’m co-curating for Linlithgow Burgh Halls with West Lothian’s Arts Officer Camille Archer.
‘Calder Wood: Contemporary views on an ancient woodland’ will run from October 2023 – January 2024 in this beautiful historic building.
The focus for the exhibition is the rich and diverse ancient woodland site of Calder Wood, recently chosen as one of the Queen’s Green Canopy woodlands.
I’m delighted that my drawing ‘Seraph’ got a mention in the Times this week. It’s one of three charcoal and conte drawings available from the 30×30 section of the exhibition. You can read the full article here.
Thanks to Giles Sutherland for a great piece on the Society of Scottish Artists 130th Annual show at the Royal Scottish Academy and thanks to the whole SSA team for presenting such a rich selection in this impressive gallery.