I was inspired by this painting of a croft house by Cadell, mostly because of the colour palette and the subject matter. Cadell first visited Iona in 1912 and returned frequently in the company of fellow artist Peploe. He was struck by the dramatic light and bold colours in the landscape and compared it to that experienced in the South of France.
In response, I have created my own set of paintings, 24 Croft houses using vintage souvenir matchboxes. Some of the croft houses are from Iona, the others have been sourced from my personal photographs of other islands I have visited in Scotland. I have deliberately used a brighter set of colours in this piece which shows the influence of Cadell’s work on mine.
Biography
Jayne Stokes Statement
I am essentially a landscape artist, although probably not in the traditional sense. I work in mixed media and my aim is to explore and document our relationship with the environment. The starting point for most of my pieces is a journey. This could be a short walk, a car journey or a trip further afield. My preferred subject is the Scottish landscape; I have lived in Scotland for over 15 years and I never tire of exploring those places around me. The environment and sustainablity are important issues to me personally and increasingly something that none of us can ignore. This also feeds into my use of mixed media. My works are rarely made from only virgin materials. It comes from things that are remade or recycled, or changed and repurposed. That is as important to the work as the messages and stories about the places I visit and document. The old tins, matchboxes and ceramic fragments I integrate into the paintings are used to select the figures and buildings, to set them apart from their surroundings or provide a different perspective – often functioning like a magnifying glass. The objects I utilise have a history of their own, having been on a journey themselves after time spent in someone's pocket, on a shelf or in the sea. I hope to remind people of the importance of stopping and appreciating what is around us.
“Beautifully life - enhancing” Ian McMillan
“Very special pieces” Jenny Eclair
Education
1997 - 1998 Winchester School of Art, Barcelona, MA European Fine Art
1992 - 1996 Edinburgh College of Art, BA (Hons) Drawing & Painting, First Class 2004 Level 4 City & Guilds Certificate in Further Education
Solo Exhibitions
2023 ‘Recollection’ Open Eye Gallery, Edinburgh 2021 ‘Outside-In’ Open Eye Gallery, Edinburgh
2018 ‘Out There’ Open Eye Gallery, Edinburgh
2014 ‘A Different Light’ RGI Award Exhibition
2011 Passing Places, Howden Arts Centre, Livingston 1998 ‘Unearthed’ Grizedale Sculpture Park
Recent Group Exhibitions
2024 RSA Annual Exhibition Edinburgh
‘The Little Picture Show’ Highgate Contemporary Art, London
RSW Annual Exhibition Edinburgh
‘Anew’ Watermill Gallery, Aberfeldy
2023 ‘Winter’ Cameron Contemporary Art Brighton
‘All The Joy’ Tatha Gallery, Newport On Tay
‘On a Small Scale’ Open Eye Gallery Edinburgh
Wells Art Contemporary, Wells Cathedral, Somerset
Summer Exhibition, Cameron Contemporary Art, Brighton
‘Festival’ Cameron Contemporary Art, Brighton
Society of Women Artists Annual Exhibition, London
2022 ING Discerning Eye Exhibition, Mall Galleries, London
Society Women Artists Annual Exhibition, Mall Galleries, London 2020 'On a Small Scale' The Open Eye Gallery, Edinburgh
The Sunday Times Watercolour Prize, Willis Museum & Mall Galleries Open Eye Gallery, Edinburgh 'Festival Spirit: Selected Artists' Paisley Art Institute 132 Annual online
'Land and Sea' Fidra Fine Art, Gullane
SSA/VAS Open, Royal Scottish Academy, Edinburgh
Awards
2022 Scotland Regional Prize, ING Discerning Eye Exhibition, London 2020/2021 VACMA Artist Awards
2020 The Jane Gardiner Prize, Paisley Art Institute
2019 RSA Edinburgh Art Shop Prize
2019 Shortlisted Artist The Wesmorland Landscape Prize
2017 SSA Open Eye gallery Exhibition Prize
2016 Moidart Trust Landscape Prize / RSA Art in Healthcare award
2012 Royal Glasgow Institute Crinan Award
2000 South London Press – Community artist award, Tate gallery, London
Artists Membership Elected Professional Member Society of Scottish Artists
Corporate collections - Aberdeen Asset management
Public Collections East Lothian Council Museums Service, BBC Your Paintings website - Oil paintings in public ownership Edinburgh College of Art, Grizedale Arts, Art in Healthcare
Publications
‘The Artists Manual’ DK Publishing due for final publication 2021
‘Boxed’ The Phillumenic Art of Jayne Stokes, Art North Magazine, April 2020 ISSN:2631-6226 Landscape In Focus - Jayne Stokes in conversation, The Artist Magazine, August 2019 ISSN 0004-3877
