Highland Artists - By Adrian Clark

4th March 2009

The new season of exhibitions continues at Eden Court next month with a diverse and contemporary show of work from Highland Artists. Highland Artists are professional artists, living and working in the Highlands whose work reflects a diverse range of talents and passions. Included in the artists' repertoire are dramatic and wonderfully evocative landscapes, surrealist gems, exquisite figurative drawings as well as intricate sculptural pieces.
From the surreal, mischievous and wryly sweet paintings of Michael Forbes to the magical evocations of wild hills and shores from Kirstie Cohen, while James Hawkins straddles abstraction and figuration with dexterous ability, Denise Davis draws her inspiration for her stunning paintings mainly from the human form and the beautiful Scottish landscape that surrounds her. Russian born Eugenie Vronskaya displays both sensitivity and awesome talent in her diverse and wide ranging work. Allan Macdonald's spectacular luscious Highland landscapes breathe life and Helen Dennerley's exceptional pieces are tenacious and self assured. The personal Armenian/Iranian family history directly feeds into the remarkable work of Anita Wyatt Murray while Linda M Smith's dramatic paintings are intimately associated with the idea of isolation and connection. Caroline Hewat draws on personal experiences for her abstracts. Colour is the motivation behind Pat Hay's striking pieces while Rosie Newman's delicate works are inspired by colour and pattern. Spanning the Pop Movement of the Sixties, Gerald Laing is currently committed to representational bronze sculptures and contemporary political pieces. Leon Patchett's superb finished works rely on geometrical themes or entertain more symbolic associations while music and love are the main stimulation behind Pamela Tait's eye-catching work: they both set her imagination on fire while Erlend Tait draws, paints and makes dazzling stained glass inspired by his surroundings.
For more information please contact Linda Smith on 01343 540111www.highlandartists.co.uk

Adrian Clark
Area Cultural Officer, (Caithness, Sutherland & E Ross)
Education, Culture & Sport, The Highland Council
Community Learning Office, Ardross Road, Alness IV17 0QA
(01349) 885114
adrian.clark[AT]highland.gov.uk