Two Months on Gigha

The Way to the Sea 

Oil 24x20"

Sun and Clouds, Gigha

Oil 28x24"

Island Studies

6x8"

This June I stayed with 3 other painters on the island of Gigha for 5 days.

It wasn't the best weather for painting outside but the island was full of accessible painting places and the colours were a delight of blues and pale greens. And wild flowers everywhere.

When we were there we were offered an exhibition in the Gigha Gallery in 2016 and since then we've learned that the exhibition can be for 2 months, August and September, the holiday months when the islands busy with tourists.
http://gighagallery.com/

Its very exciting and I've been sorting out works that may be suitable, mostly from sketches done during  our stay though I'm hoping to return in May to do more studies.

Now I need to store these away in the meantime.

Modern Scottish Women | Painters and Sculptors 1885-1965 Modern Two Edinburgh

This is a friend's record of a recent day we had in Edinburgh - a Gallery Day, on of the best kind of days. Up by car and down by train and it rained and rained. Loved it!

"We made our way for lunch down a splashy Princes Street - artistic inspiration for wet reflections, though!

We weren’t tempted by this neon spider-tower - Wheeeee!

Pink and Blue Umbrellas scurrying into Jamie Oliver’s Italian, sited in the refurbished ground floor of the historic Georgian Assembly Rooms  

(built in 1787)  - Rose Street entrance. (I was under the pink umbrella )

Yummy sundried tomato antipasti with olives, before our main meal 

- food/service was  excellent and well priced - will def revisit!

We admired our refined, frescoed Georgian surroundings - an unexpected backdrop to a bustling and chic modern restaurant!

Edinburgh City Council defended its controversial plan to introduce a retail and restaurant element on the ground floor as necessary to "largely finance" the refurbishments of the Assembly Rooms’ main events rooms - the Ballroom, Music Hall, Crush Hall and the East and West Drawing Rooms…….. the project has seen the ground floor of the building returned to its "original use".

"Shops were there until as recently as 1950, and the Supper Room will go back to its original dining use (the clue being in its name!), creating a new entrance on Rose Street," 

We spent the remainder of afternoon,until closing time, viewing the stunning current RSW watercolour exhibition 

- 277 works by contemporary Scottish artists

The Royal Scottish Society of Painters in Watercolour

135th OPEN ANNUAL WINTER EXHIBITION Upper Galleries, RSA Building, The Mound. Edinburgh EH2 2EL 27 November – 12 December 2015 Daily 10am – 5pm Sundays 12 – 5pm

Rain had stopped  - yey!  we headed for Waverley Station past the Princes Street Fairground & Christmas Market in Full Swing

Sleet and snow forecast for later - gritters out and a 6-dog sled team was being exercised…."

This is a friend's record of a recent day we had in Edinburgh - a Gallery Day, on of the best kind of days. Up by car and down by train and it rained and rained. Loved it!

A Month of Yellows

  

Woodland Study Culzean 2

10x12" Oil on board

Woodland Study Culzean 1

24x20"Oil

November Woods

Acrylic  8x6"

Everywhere I've walked this last few weeks it's been like walking through a land of yellow and because, until recently, the air has been relatively still the leaves have remained in all their glory.

I'm lucky to live a short drive away from Culzean Park where I regularly go, not only to walk, but also to work sometimes in the Charity Bookshop which raises funds for The National Trust. 

Its a treat to be there amongst a few thousand secondhand books and at the same time to enjoy the wonderful parklands.

An Exhibition in the Lillie Gallery

   

The Heather Hills

Oil on canvas   2015

30x30"

I'm an elected member of 

The Glasgow Society of Women Artists 

and feel really privileged to be able to take part in the groups exhibitions in various venues around Scotland.

This Autumn it's being held in The Lillie Art Gallery in Milngavie, Glasgow.

The Gallery has a collection of Scottish Art from 1850 to the present and includes works by Elizabeth Blackadder , Francis Cadell, Samuel Peploe and Joan Eardley.

An Arran landscape

Sold

Oil on canvas  2014

10x12"

Glasgow Art Fair

Landscape with Walls and a Windfarm

Ochre Hills

Autumn Trees

A Winter Sun

All the paintings are oil on board.

Getting ready for the Glasgow Contemporary Art Fair.

I'm not sure if these will be included but 

at least I've some ready and not rushing at the last minute.

Thankyou to The Ailsa Gallery who've asked me to be one of their 6 exhibiting artists at the Art Fair.

North Ayrshire Art Exhibition

Road to the Loch

 Oil on Canvas  24x20"

I got word today that my two paintings entered into The North Ayrshire Art Exhibition had been accepted and that's always a good feeling.

It's been a few years since I tried for this exhibition as I never seem to have enough works for 

the shows that come along in groups, like buses, in the summer months.

But this year I've involved myself in less and so have more paintings ready.

The Garden Poppies

Oil on board  10x12"

The exhibition is held in The Raquet Hall at Eglinton Park

and starts Saturday 12th July 2014

Join us for the preview

Friday 11th July
7.30pm

Visit the exhibition

Saturday 12th - Saturday 26th July
10.00am - 4.00pm

The Raquet Hall
Eglinton Country Park
Kilwinning

Join us for the preview

Friday 11th July
7.30pm

Visit the exhibition

Saturday 12th - Saturday 26th July
10.00am - 4.00pm

The Raquet Hall
Eglinton Country Park
Kilwinning

The Red Corner

Lemons on Red

Oil on Board 20x20"

This is the latest painting combining that wonderful Amaryllis with the cool yellow of lemons. 

I used this other painting below as the resource reworking the idea in a different format and enjoying the mark making and the rich warm and cool reds.

Amaryllis with Red

Oil on Board 30x24"

I've now got a red corner in the back room and it's a great place to sit with the morning coffee.

So, more work ready for Open Studios and also another exhibition in May, one red still life for each.

Two for Open Studios Ayrshire

Oil on canvas   12x12"

Oil on board  12x10"

Bridget Hunter 2014

Painting to pull together some unfinished works that have lain under a bed waiting for inspiration but the truth is I've been really afraid to tackle them. 

It gets like that sometimes, I just don't know what to do next so I hide them and just hope  !

However the Open Studio event is getting closer and a few other exhibitions so I need to finish some of those .

Both show trees growing behind Burns Cottage garden which is very close to where I live.

There are some Scots Pines and its their shapes that I find fascinating.

I'd like to draw these pine trees in charcoal and look forward to having the time to go out when the weather is a bit warmer.

A Studio Sale

Spring Yellows  

Oil on Board  10x10" *

I recently held a 3 day Studio Sale with 2 friends, a painter and a leadglass maker.

Despite the awful weather we were delighted with the support we got from family, friends and passers-by who came to browse, drink coffee and blether and buy !

It's strange to see these photos of my house transformed into a gallery but it seems to work quite well.

A Front Cover

I can't believe my painting's on the front cover of The MacLaurin Gallery magazine . It seems unreal, that it's someone else. It's because of a new venture, a wall featuring local artists.

             This, however, does feel real - three of my four granddaughters and their doting Grandma!

Harvest Golds at Greenan

Harvest Golds at Greenan

Oil on canvas  30 x 30 cm

Bridget Hunter 2013

A favourite sketching place near the ruins of Greenan Castle, Ayr.

It's been hectic trying to get all 6 paintings finished. And there's been lots of paint scraped off which is really such a waste of materials.

So, I'm trying to change the frantic way I paint and take time to stop and think and place more considered marks.

I think I might need to pin a notice above the easel as a reminder though. 

Through the Gate

Oil on board   51 x 51 cm 

Bridget Hunter 2013

There's been more paint scraped off this one than put on in the fight to get it finished. I'm taking it up in my little car with a second work to submit for selection to The Paisley Art Institute for their annual exhibition. 

Needless to say there's painty rags and brushes needing washed everywhere as I try to get the other painting to a finished state.

This hobby is taking over my life but would be lost without it.

Ayrshire Open Studios

My small hallway so far

I'm taking part in a new venture called OPEN STUDIOS AYRSHIRE on 22, 23 and 24 March.

This is our first go although Open Studios is now a very successful part of the UK art scene.

 For this first time we've 36 artist working in pottery, prints and painting and a brochure with a map is being popped into libraries, shops and anywhere else willing to take a bundle. This photo shows my small hallway so far, although I think I'd best get the black frame changed to a cream one. Also I need to get greeting cards, postcards and business cards printed so searching for reliable printing companies.

The idea is that visitors come to your studio and browse and maybe buy some art, though I have to say I have a very small house. and the trouble is we've no idea how well the event will be attended.

I thought if I served coffees, teas and maybe had some wine at the ready, as well as my friends wonderful home made scones, it might encourage a bit of rash spending!

And if very few come, well, my scone maker and I can always drink the wine ourselves.

Red for Summer

Oil on board  8x6"

Bridget Hunter 2012

sold

Gallery at Dereel

This small local venue holds exhibitions now and again. It's the home and studio of Irene Walker . I know she's been very busy clearing her studio to make it into an exhibition place and want to thank her for all her hard work and for including my work amongst the exhibits. 

I've 3 paintings there, including this small oil.

Ayr Sketch Club Exhibition

The Ayr Sketch Club Annual Exhibition started today and continues till 19th August. It's held at The MacLaurin Gallery, Ayr.

        http://www.themaclaurin.org.uk/.

 The Sketch Club is made up of a  great bunch of friendly people, amateurs and professionals, who meet weekly for crit nights, demonstrations and workshops.

http://www.ayrsketchclub.co.uk/

It's always quite scary seeing your work hung in an exhibition and it's very tempting to linger behind people who are discussing one of your paintings. I resisted the urge and instead had a glass of white wine !

A bit more of Skye

Oil on Board  24 x 20"

Bridget Hunter 2012

This is another version of "A Little Bit of Skye". There was something about the first painting that irritated me - so I thought I'd try a second time, same size and same 7 colours but a slightly different composition. In other words I've deviated from the original sketch but think the basic lush greens of Skye are better shown. 

Paisley Art Institute

Paisley Art Institute

The Annual Exhibition starts on Saturday 6th May and is well worth a visit.

I am delighted to have a painting included this year.

November at Borrowdale

Oil on board  28x24"