Ahead of an exhibition in memory of her influential tutor John Busby, this Royal Academy painter and printmaker reflects on her adventurous career to date.
What first inspired your artistic journey?
My school years were spent at a wonderful art department at Morrison’s Academy in Crieff, Perthshire. The teachers were welcoming and encouraging, unlike the reception that I encountered in maths and science classes.
Later, at Edinburgh College of Art, the artist John Busby took us out of the studios to observe and be visually excited by places as diverse as coal mines, breweries and sea shores. That experience shaped the way I work today.
Travel is an integral part of your practice. How have past journeys inspired particular works?
My working practice involves observing and recording in a location over a lengthy period then returning to my studio to develop these studies. This has led me to Ireland, France, Spain, Italy, Arizona, the Arctic and, of course, my home territory of the northwest of Scotland.
These are not merely topographical studies. I have to study the history and geography of the location to find out how the people have lived there and over years changing and shaping their environment. In each location, I am conscious of the marks they have made and their spirits that are still inhabiting the place.
What are your future travel plans?
This story is from the August 2019 edition of Artists & Illustrators.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the August 2019 edition of Artists & Illustrators.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Still life IN 3 HOURS
Former BP Portrait Award runner-up FELICIA FORTE guides you through a simple, structured approach to painting alla prima that tackles dark, average and light colours in turn
Movement in composition
Through an analysis of three masterworks, landscape painter and noted author MITCHELL ALBALA shows how you can animate landscape composition with movement
Shane Berkery
The Irish-Japanese artist talks to REBECCA BRADBURY about the innovative concepts and original colour combinations he brings to his figurative oil paintings from his Dublin garden studio
The Working Artist
Something old, something new... Our columnist LAURA BOSWELL has expert advice for balancing fresh ideas with completing half-finished work
Washes AND GLAZES
Art Academy’s ROB PEPPER introduces an in-depth guide to incorporating various techniques into your next masterpiece. Artwork by STAN MILLER, CHRIS ROBINSON and MICHELE ILLING
Hands
LAURA SMITH continues her new four-part series, which encourages you to draw elements of old master paintings, and this month’s focus is on capturing hands
Vincent van Gogh
To celebrate The Courtauld’s forthcoming landmark display of the troubled Dutch master’s self-portraits, STEVE PILL looks at the stories behind 10 of the most dramatic works on display
BRING THE drama
Join international watercolour maestro ALVARO CASTAGNET in London’s West End to paint a dramatic street scene
Serena Rowe
The Scottish painter tells STEVE PILL why time is precious, why emotional responses to colour are useful, and how she finds focus every day with the help of her studio wall
Bill Jacklin
Chatting over Zoom as he recovers from appendicitis, the Royal Academician tells STEVE PILL about classic scrapes in New York and his recent experiments with illustration
