The natural world inspires James Parker’s sculptures, but the self-taught artist has been influenced just as much by his experience of growing up on a farm
Homemade gifts are the best. Ask any parent; the pasta necklaces, egg-box houses and papier-mâché heads are the presents that are kept forever, once the wrapping paper and ribbon have been discarded. James Parker’s granny got the mother of all homemade gifts in 2007, when her grandson made a sculpture for her. What was intended as a thoughtful addition to her well-tended garden in the Galloway countryside set Parker off on a new career path. “That sculpture was placed in quite a prominent position, and lots of people asked about it,” he says. “It got a lot of attention.”
It was his father who had taught him how to work with slate. He and his two brothers and two sisters lived with their parents on a farm in Galloway. “The farm had a huge influence on our lives,” says Parker. “As a farmer, my dad would have to repair gaps in the drystone walling and I would help him. I just picked it up naturally.”
After his father’s death, Parker served in the Armed Forces for six years. On his return to Scotland and at a crossroads in his career, a moment of serendipity showed him that sculpture could become more than simply a hobby. “I was helping a friend repair a wall and I could feel what a cathartic, absorbing experience working with slate was for me.”
Denne historien er fra May - June 2018-utgaven av Homes & Interiors Scotland.
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Denne historien er fra May - June 2018-utgaven av Homes & Interiors Scotland.
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Escape BOATH HOUSE
An inspirational Georgian manor house in the north-east offers sanctuary to artists, poets and the curious of spirit
Escape THE LOOKOUT
Sun-drenched interiors, right on the beach - it's hard to believe this is Scotland
"It still feels like home. Just nicer"
The owners of this house in Edinburgh didn't intend to give it a complete makeover, but once they started they just couldn't stop
A SCOTTISH LOVE STORY
You need passion to persevere through a lengthy restoration project. Thankfully for this rambling old lodge in Highland Perthshire, its new owners were already head over heels
CLEAN AND POLISH
Ten years in the making, this one-time dental surgery in Portobello has been reshaped as an elegant, practical family home
MEET THE MAKER RACHEL MACLELLAN
You might think the process is purely creative, but designing knitted textiles requires a deep understanding of geometry and pattern calculations. It is intricate and often mathematical. I have learned that knitting demands a constant balance between artistry and engineering. Creating a new textile involves not only selecting colours and yarns but also considering the tensile strength, elasticity and drape of the material. That way, I ensure the final product is both aesthetically pleasing and functional. To me, this blend of creativity and technical precision is a fascinating aspect of knitted textile design.
IN THE KITCHEN AT PARTIES
It's all in the details for this slick and multifunctional entertainment space
JUST A HINT OF PINK
This family-orientated Georgian kitchen gets an upgrade in both footprint and finish
BEHIND CLOSED DOORS
Beauty and the best of Scotland on the shores of Loch Ness
LAURA THOMAS
The environmentalist has become a very successful entrepreneur whose products are stocked by Scotland's best hotels