Wild Islands Expedition

Aim

I am raising money to fund a research trip from Mallaig to Oban in Sep 2019 and produce work for a solo exhibition in 2020.

About me:

I am an artist living and working in Fife, Scotland. I have exhibited my work widely throughout the UK and regularly show at a range of prestigious galleries. Since graduating from Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design in 2006, I have worked hard to maintain my art practice and have received many awards, including the prestigious Pastel Society Young Artist Award at The Pastel Society’s 114th Annual Exhibition, London and the James Torrance Memorial award at The Royal Glasgow Institute of the Fine Arts, Glasgow.

My studio is based alongside the marina in the Platform Studios, Burntisland overlooking the Firth of Forth. My work has recently focussed on directly responding to my immediate environment. From my studio looking across to East Lothian I can see the weather changing as it moves towards the land and sea bringing with it the marine life and birds which inhabit the water and air. The beaches and bays along the east coast, strewn with rocks, sand and wildlife which form the coastline have become the basis of my art practice and provide me with a bounty of inspiration.

My idea: 

I have recently been accepted to join the crew on board Sail Britain. This is an opportunity to explore the Inner Hebrides with an experienced crew who provide a safe environment for artists and scientists to come together and share knowledge on the sea, land and our fragile environment. 

Accessing these small, wild and remote islands by boat will bring me closer to the  elements and the wildlife I love. Encountering dolphins swimming alongside the boat, seabirds flying past and skimming the water plus the sheer physical activity of sailing will hopefully deepen my connection with an environment I have only previously encountered from the land.  

This trip offers the opportunity to produce work whilst on board the boat and also back on dry land. The drawings made during this expedition will be used as research in my studio to build on a new series of works inspired by wild and remote islands. This material will then be developed into a series of prints and drawings for a solo exhibition in 2020. 

Vision:  

The vision for this project is for it to significantly develop my art practice through being immersed in a challenging environment to help create an exciting new body of work.

How will I spend the money: 

The money will help cover the travel costs to and from Mallaig, the Sail Britain fees, studio rent for the months following the trip to work up my ideas and print studio fees at Dundee Contemporary Arts. This will also cover materials used in producing drawings that are then framed and exhibited at my solo exhibition in 2020.

I will endeavour to get all works sent out to you by March 2020 at the very latest, but most probably sooner than that, commissions will take a little bit longer!

Please note postage and packing is included in pledge value for UK addresses.

For countries outside the UK, postage and packing of items up to the value of £25 is included in the pledge value but NOT for items of higher value. Please email me first before pledging for higher value items as postage charges will need to be added (sadly I can't absorb these).

Pledge £25 - Example of an A5 small bird limited edition screen print, choice of four availble. Please note that all work available to pledge for will be inspired by and created after the boat trip. These images are just examples of my work.

Pledge £50 - Example of Hebridean Seascape Screen Print - A4 Please note that all work available to pledge for will be inspired by and created after the boat trip. These images are just examples of my work.

Pledge £100 - Monochrome Cormorant Screen Print. Please note that all work available to pledge for will be inspired by and created after the boat trip. These images are just examples of my work.

Pledge £200 - A4 Original landscape w/c or pastel drawing Please note that all work available to pledge for will be inspired by and created after the boat trip. These images are just examples of my work.

Pledge £400 - A2 Original Pastel Drawing of Isle of Staffa Please note that all work available to pledge for will be inspired by and created after the boat trip. These images are just examples of my work.

Pledge £800 - Commission an original artwork i.e an animal or bird or portrait, something that is personal to you. 

This project successfully funded on 4th September 2019