EXHIBITING ARTISTS

Helen paints both landscape and still life. Many of her paintings have included bottles, jars and mirrors using the light and reflection to bring shade and different angles into the subject. This year Cockenzie Harbour has also provided a focus for a body of work using collage, oil paint and pastels.  Helen’s studio is at the top of her garden and she takes inspiration from the flowers and fruits in season which she includes into her still life compositions. She works predominately with oil paint. The inclusion of collage and oil pastel and graphite introduces an interesting dynamic.

 “I search to create work which achieves an emotional response.  I am moved by simple forms, clean and void of any unnecessary components, sculpture sincere to its form, material and surface.

The process of creating has been a must for me for a very long time and the materials I use vary according to the task in hand, I work mostly in stone, cement and clay the clay and cement being cast in either bronze or resin, both in limited editions.”

Heather lives in south west Scotland. She enjoys working with water based mediums and watercolour in particular for its translucency. Having experimented with this medium for several years, she has developed a very individual approach. Her methods can involve many painted layers, slowly building up areas of intense colour to create depth in the finished work. In contrast, other paintings are lively and spontaneous, having a freshness more often associated with this medium. There may be a suggestion of reality; however the picture plane is often broken by abstract geometric forms that give the painting a surreal quality.

Design is understandably an important element in her paintings, and she has always been attracted by the way that flowers, leaves and stems interact to make patterns.  The unpredictability of glaze reactions has also had an influence on her painting methods.  By using variously prepared paper, or totally non-absorbent artificial “paper”, washes of paint behave precariously, leaving interesting marks.  Jane paints with diluted acrylics to give a watercolour effect.

Marylyn lives in Moray, North East Scotland.  Nature inspires her constantly and she loves to work out of doors.  She uses watercolour but also paints in oils, taking paints, pads and pencils wherever she goes.  She paints in a free style and wild flowers painted by the river, landscapes, trees and garden flowers are all part of her portfolio.