Catalogue

We have just produced our very first exhibition catalogue.  The upcoming Sandy Murphy RSW RGI PAI exhibition is the special event we have been waiting for. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It has been a delight to work with Sandy on putting a catalogue together that epitomises his vision for the exhibition. 

 

 

 

The exhibition will feature a rare glimpse into the artist's sketchbooks, moving onto the many studies in oil and mixed media and then onto the finished and beautifully framed paintings.

 

 

Without giving too much away, for Sandy's work always has to be seen in person, the catalogue represents an artist at the height of his career, confident enough to show the workings behind a finished painting.  This is possible because each study is a thing of beauty in itself.  The drawings and studies will be available to purchase alongside the paintings.

The exhibition previews on 8 September.  The catalogue is available on request.

 

 

Thanks for reading!

 

 

 

Natalie

Sandy Murphy RSW RGI PAI



We are busy putting together our catalogue for the upcoming Sandy Murphy solo exhibition and are loving every minute of pouring over the images. 


Galloway Moon

 

Hillside Ayrshire

Process: An Exhibition of Ideas, Sketches and Paintings is a rare chance to see the sometimes complex evolution of an idea into the finished painting. 
 



Study For Silver Flowe

Sketch



Sandy's sketchbooks will be on display, plus the initial studies and small paintings.

Loudon Hill

 

 

 

 

Blue Shade

 

The exhibition previews on 8 September.  The catalogue will be available on request.

 

Thanks for reading!



Natalie


Gallery News

We are back from our holidays and are busy organising a fabulous line-up of exhibitions for the rest of 2013.

Opening on September 8, we have an exhibition I have wanted to have since opening the gallery in 2005. 

Sandy Murphy RSW RGI PAI has been an inspiration of mine since I was an aspiring painter myself.  I believe that he is the best painter that Scotland has to offer.

This is an exhibition that he has always wanted to have and I feel very lucky that he is choosing to have it at Smithy Gallery.

Process: Ideas, Sketches and Paintings is a concept that I love.  Sandy is allowing people to see the development of a painting from its initial conception in the sketchbook. 

I feel that seeing into an artist's sketchbook is a little like being allowed a peak at their diary.  A very personal insight into how an artist really works. Also on show will be the multi-media works that Sandy works through until the final painting evolves into life on canvas.

Sandy will hang the exhibition himself in the way he wants his work to be viewed, a first at Smithy Gallery.

A beautiful catalogue is being produced for this exhibition.

Then in October, we have a first at Smithy Gallery.  I have often admired the bold and beautiful works by painter Liz Knox and am delighted to be hosting a solo exhibition of her new works Flowers and Circumstances.

Liz will be showing alongside renowned sculptor Tom Allan.  The gallery walls will be devoted to Liz, and the floor to Tom's marble and stone sculpture. A real meeting of the bold and the beautiful.

In November we are delighted to be presenting works by Alasdair Gray alongside Joyce Gunn Cairns MBE and Steven Camley.

Herald cartoonist Steven Camley had a sell-out show at the gallery in June and we are excited to have been approached by Alasdair Gray, a fan of his and of Edinburgh star Joyce Gunn Cairns, to hold an exhibition of works by these three dynamic artists, forerunners in their fields.

Watch this space for more information.

Thanks for reading!


Natalie

Happy Days

The sun is shining and Andy Murray won Wimbledon.  Happy Days!

 

The flowers are in bloom, and it's any excuse to enjoy the sunshine.  Scotland in the sunshine is extra-beautiful and we've had many people out and about and coming in to visit our Summer Exhibition

 

 

 

 

 

 

The sun spills in, inviting people to stay a while and enjoy some of their favourite artists.  The choice this year is fabulous and I'm pleased to say that the work is leaping off the walls!

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For a look at who is showing, click the link!

 

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

 

 

 

 

 

The exhibition continues until this Sunday.

 

 

Thanks for reading!

 

 

Natalie

Margaretann Bennett RSW

I have been a fan of Margaretann Bennett's work for many years now.  Her work is incredibly recognisable, a quality I love in a good artist. 

Wraith

The work speaks for itself, but I am also a fan of Margaterann herself.  For me, knowing and liking the artist adds even more to the work.

She studied at Glasgow School of Art, graduating in 1991 and then worked as a freelance designer. A desire to experience other areas of artistic practice led her to explore etching and lithography. She has also studied paper-making, and the use of paper in an innovative manner is fundamental to her work.

Mystery

While her work has extensively explored landscape and still life, her more current work is figurative, as you can see. 

Whether real or imaginary, her characters have to have a strong sense of the individual, and people seem to have one of two reactions: unnerved or utterly compelled.  All I know is, they never stay in the gallery long.

What I like most about Margaterann is that she is utterly true to herself.  She isn't inspired by what sells.  For her, it's about the creation of the work and her development as an artist.  This is a rare quality indeed, and I admire it greatly.  She will take time and space to live and development and to see in what direction her work grows.  Having her work in the gallery, and the reaction that follows, is always an exciting experience.



Melody





Her strong work has deservedly gained in reputation over the years, and the awards have been plentiful including the Mabel MacKinlay Awards (RGI, 2011); The Scottish Arts Club Award (RSW, 2010); The Inverarity One to One Travel Award (RGI 2007); The Armour Award (RGI 2006); The William Bowie Award (PAI 2006); and she is also an elected member of the Royal Society of Watercolourists.

We are showing these paintings in our Summer Exhibition until 12th July.

Thanks for reading!

Natalie

Come Rain or Shine

It has gone from very warm and sunny outside to very dark and rainy so we are going bright today!




Ab Fab Finch by Stanley Bird



In the last post we highlighted some of the more atmospheric, evocative pieces of work in our Summer Exhibition.   

Blue Summer by Kevin Low

The paintings here are more heart-stopping visual statements, each one as intriguing as the next.

Russian Doll by Cathy Campbell

The wealth of talent in Scotland always amazes me.  I've simply chosen six paintings from this exhibition, and look at the strength and variety.  





Ace of Clubs by David Martin RSW RGI




Through creating their work, our artists are very strong, definitive and expressive. I have a theory that the Scottish weather has something to do with it.  Weather by definition, is ever-changing.  And with it so does the light, tone, mood, our clothes, what we spend time doing.





Bravo by Colin Brown




I think this nurtures a great spectrum of how the individual interprets the world around them.





Seeking The Source by Ashley Cook



 Maybe I'm just trying to feel good about the rain.  I'm typing this with damp hair.


Thanks for reading!


Natalie

Atmosphere

We have a wonderful mix of artists taking part in our current Summer Exhibition.  We have bright and beautiful, but what we have the most of all is atmosphere.



Fortress, Dunnotar by Neil MacDonald RGI PAI




I love works that emote. To be able to evoke different emotions isn't usually down to subject matter.  It's something else entirely.




An Imagined Kiss by Kevin Low



We can have landscape, figurative, still life that make us feel, winsome, intrigued, hopeful, a little sad.



Wishbone by Cathy Campbell




This occurs when the artist gives of themselves and the viewer connects.  Possibly in as many ways as different as the individual, but this is what a good piece of art does, it makes us feel different from how we felt just before viewing, it brings something to us.

Wraith by Margaretann Bennett RSW

It stops us in our tracks, or makes our minds whirr, or takes us to a different place in our present or in our memories.






The Mists of Time By Joyce Gunn Cairns VAS SSA



It makes us wonder about life, or love or nature, or childhood, or a million other things.  Good art is a very special gift that an artist gives to others and to themselves, although never the twain will meet.



Patacake by Alice McMurrough RGI PAI


It's a very evocative exhibition and I feel lucky to be surrounded by such work.

To view more of the exhibition, please go to:  http://www.smithygallery.co.uk/currentExhibitions.htm



Thanks for reading!

Natalie