The Fabulous Jimmy Cosgrove

We are currently exhibiting works by James Cosgrove PAI (or Jimmy Cosgrove as he is more popularly known) as part of our four person exhibition of Ayrshire artists.

Sweet Dreams

This work is fabulously original and exciting.  Detail, tone, colour and energy all merging harmoniously to create dazzling works.

Passing Through

Jimmy is a very well-respected Scottish artist and designer who taught at Glasgow School of Art before becoming Deputy Director. He retired from academic life in 1999.

From a High Window

He is a now Director with the House for an Art Lover and has contributed to books on Art and Design, CR Mackintosh - and ART PARK Glasgow at Bellahouston Park, where he has a Sculpture fabricated in iron and steel titled; ‘Shipbuilding - Homage to Those Who Made the Clyde Great’.

The Magicians

His recent work in painting, drawing and collage is derived from travel in general and people and places in the west of Scotland in particular - including Arran and Ayrshire.

He often collects written and graphic observations in the form of short narratives often painted on postcards usually completed on location and posted home.

Autumn Visitor

His work hangs in several public collections including Kelvingrove Museum and Gallery; Scottish Arts Council; Glasgow School of Art; and Inverness Museum and Art Gallery.

We are delighted to be exhibiting an artist of this standing.

The exhibition continues until 28 October.


Thanks for reading!


Natalie

Beautiful Glass

I have been looking for special glass for exhibition at the gallery, and here it is!

 

Stunning bowls and perfume bottles.

Each piece is free blown, and hand finished to the highest quality.

There are a wide range of designs, colours and finishes.

Each one is more beautiful than the next!

And there are many more available at the gallery.

But I don't think they will be there for long!

 Thanks for reading!

Natalie

The Preview

Our new exhibition 'The Ayrshire Four' previewed this Sunday. As I was hanging the exhibition, I got that shiver of excitement as I could see the contrasting works were hanging very well together, and the gallery was yet again being transformed into something new.

 

I was really looking forward to seeing how this mix of artists would be received, and I am delighted to say it went off with a bang!

Ayrshire artist Sandy Murphy RSW RGI PAI is considered to be one of Scotland's finest painters and it was he who wanted to exhibit alongside three artists who also hail from Ayrshire - James Cosgrove PAI, Michael Durning PPAI and Euan McGregor.

We had one of our busiest previews to date and I want to thank all the art-lovers who came and enjoyed the opening of this exhibition. There was a fabulous atmosphere and even the sun came out to play.

I want to thank all four artists again for the beautiful works that have come together to create a stunning exhibition.

This exhibition runs until 28 October and the paintings can be viewed on line at:

http://smithygallery.co.uk/currentExhibitions.htm

Thanks for reading!

Natalie

The Ayrshire Four

I've just finished hanging the new exhibition for it's preview this Sunday.  We have new collections by four very different artists (all from glorious Ayrshire) and I'm pleased to say they are hanging very happily together.

We have the fabulous Sandy Murphy RSW RGI PAI . . . . .

October Hillside, Ayrshire

The esteemed James Cosgrove PAI . . . . .

In The Sculpture Garden

The PAI President, Michael Durning PPAI . . . . . .

Dumgoyne

And the award winning Euan McGregor . . . . . .

Clouds Clearing Over Arran

As you can see, their styles are very different, but it works and the exhibition is looking fabulous, esteemed, presidential and award-winning!  Okay it looks pretty good!

There has been a lot of interest in these works already.  For a closer look, click on the following link:

http://www.smithygallery.co.uk/currentExhibitions.htm 

And to get up close and personal, you are very welcome to join the artists at the gallery on Sunday 23 September, 2pm to 5pm, for the opening of the exhibition. 

Thanks for reading!

Natalie

Joyce Gunn Cairns MBE

I met up with one of my favourite artists yesterday.  Joyce Gunn Cairns is a fabulous Edinburgh artist who dares to delve, and who doesn't shy away from anything that her art enables her to explore. 

Joyce in her studio

She exhibited recently in a two person exhibition at the gallery with the famed writer and artist, Alasdair Gray.  The exhibition was a hugely successful and joyous experience and I can't wait to exhibit Joyce's work again.

Lady Lazurus

She is one of the most interesting and talented people I know, completely dedicated to her work.  She creates powerful works with a lightness of touch that I haven't observed before.

Literature and poetry is also a passion of hers and she sometimes incorporates a poet's verse into the piece.  This beautiful sketch of a hare is accompanied by 'The Hare's Form' by Valerie Gillies.

Detail from a new painting - Absence

I'm glad to say I will be receiving new works by Joyce as part of our upcoming November exhibition.

Not being able to wait that long, I have chosen several unframed beautiful drawings from her studio which can be viewed in the gallery browser.  Thank you Joyce!

Thanks for reading!

Natalie

Excited!

Two words!  Sandy Murphy!

Yes, regular readers may know that he's one of my very favourite painters and I'm delighted to announce that he will be exhibiting soon at Smithy Gallery along with three of his contemporaries (buddies).

All four artists hail from Ayrshire, one of Scotland's talent hot spots.  Sandy will be exhibiting next month alongside James Cosgrove PAI, Michael Durning PPAI and Euan McGregor.

I'm trying to tell myself not to take any more home with me, but having already see some images of the paintings . . . .

 . . . . I fear I may be not be able to resist . . . .

But then, I am going to be distracted by three other fabulous talents . . . . 

Stay tuned for much, much more on the Ayrshire Four!

Thanks for reading!

Natalie

What's The Point of Art?

Now there's a question.  

I'm going with Francis Bacon on this one.  He once said 'It is the artist's job to deepen the mystery'. 

I wholeheartedly agree that a true artist doesn't just represent what we can already see clearly around us, but encourages us to look at everyday things in a different way, allowing us to explore our mysterious world.

Sian MacQueen RSW - Journey To Jura

Take the Scottish landscape.  We are already lucky enough that it seems to shift and change before our eyes due to the ever-changing weather, but it also provides massive inspiration to many Scottish artists, allowing them to interpret the world around us in their own way.

Out current three-person exhibition has three artists working in this way, as expressive individuals. 

Sian MacQueen takes the Scottish islands, the places she loves, and pairs them with meaningful mementos.  These are personal to her, but the viewer takes delight or confusion from the symbols and makes their own interpretation about them and their relevance to the landscape.

David Martin RSW RGI - Field and Dark Hill, Perthshire

David Martin is a wonderful expressive painter who breaks the landscape down into rhythm and colour.  We recognise it, but not quite.  His paintings highlight the pulse of nature apparent to the eye but evoke the layers and layers of life hidden beneath the surface.

David Smith RSW - The Rhum Cuillin

David Smith puts himself directly into the Scottish landscape with his love of hill-walking. His is a love of the scale and majesty of our landscape. His paintings denote the power and the passage of time in our world, reminding us to be in the moment, for now is to be cherished.  Okay, that's my interpretation!  All good works should inspire multiple interpretations.

More from these artists can be viewed on:

http://smithygallery.co.uk/currentExhibitions.htm

Thanks for reading!

Natalie