George Birrell, John Brown, Matthew Draper, Jacqueline Orr and Astrid Trügg
31 August to 6 October
Our next exhibition pulls together work from five artists whose work is both bold in style and instantly recognisable. No strangers to previous exhibitions at the gallery, all five are among the most highly regarded and popular artists working in Scotland today. It is a real treat to be able to show a good range of their new work in the same exhibition.
George Birrell’s colourful reimagining of the sights and sounds of the harbours and castles found along the East Coast of Scotland are well loved and widely collected. It is always great to see a new collection of George’s work in the gallery.
We move from George’s harbours and castles of the East Neuk to the souks and kasbahs of Morocco and the colourful, coastal villages of Gambia with the latest work of John Brown. John’s work lingers along the borders of abstraction and the representational but the combination of composition, searingly vibrant colours and texture, transports the viewer to these colourful and animated communities.
Matthew Draper brings us back to the East coast of Scotland with a series of new studies of his favourite muse, Bass Rock. The Rock and the ever-changing light that plays out on it, has captivated artists for centuries. Using pastel or charcoal Matt’s studies of Bass Rock are acutely observed and depending on the weather, can portray the rock dramatically spotlit with ethereal light breaking through a crack in the clouds or as the haar shrouded muse emerging on a summer’s morning.
It has been a few years since we had a selection of Jacqueline Orr’s work in the gallery so it is great to welcome her back. I am a big fan of her painting. Economic with her brushstrokes but big, bold and confident, bursting with colour. The study of light and colour dominates her painting practice and the subjects chosen, whether French, Spanish or Scottish imagery are simply vehicles which allow her to.
Astrid Trügg is another regular exhibitor with the gallery however, it is great to have her exhibiting a good selection of paintings in a small group show to really demonstrate the quality of her work. Like the others in the exhibition, Astrid has a uniquely identifiable style. Drawn to interesting everyday objects, Astrid has most recently concentrated on still life subjects. Her use of gesso and glue mixed with pure mill-ground pigments, such as lapis lazuli, creates a textured surface with incredibly vibrant colours into which she adds interesting antique newspaper cuttings which adds to the texture and narrative.
The exhibition opens on Saturday 31 August at 11am but we will have refreshments available and the chance to meet some of the artists from 2 until 5pm.
Hope to see you there.
