Celebrating The Life of George Bain - The Father of Modern Celtic Art

Submitted by Jim Gaitens

26th January 2007

Groam House, the award-winning museum in Rosemarkie, is embarking on an ambitious exhibition project as part of Highland 2007, Scotland's year of Highland Culture. The project will focus on the outstanding work of Highland artist George Bain, who devoted much of his life to the study of the techniques of the ancient Celtic and Pictish artists.

The exhibition, 'George Bain - A Highland Homecoming', will tour extensively in the Highlands during 2007, and will include workshop sessions for schools, an evening workshop for adults and an evening lecture in each location. However, in order to emphasise George Bain's strong association with Caithness, the tour has been planned to open at the Swanson Gallery in Thurso on Friday, 23 February and will run until Saturday, 24 March.

Often referred to as 'the father of modern Celtic design', George Bain was born in Scrabster in 1881. His family moved to Edinburgh around1890, where Bain began his professional training. After a rich and varied career as an artist and teacher, Bain moved back to the Highlands, settling in Drumnadrochit - birthplace of his wife Jessie Mackintosh.

His deep affection with Caithness stayed with him all his life. He often returned to the area to revisit his roots and to find inspiration in the Caithness coastlines and seascapes for his striking watercolours.

Several of these Caithness paintings will be featured exclusively at the Thurso exhibition, and will be displayed alongside many splendid examples of his work in the techniques of Celtic art. A significant number of these images were used for the designs of cards, carpets, medals and plaques, and the exhibition will also explore this important aspect of the artist's work.

WORKSHOPS AND LECTURES

In addition to the exhibition, Groam House Museum is offering four workshops to primary schools in the area, and an evening workshop for the general public. The evening session will take place on Wednesday, 7 March at 7pm in the Swanson Gallery, and is designed for older children and adults. The aim of these sessions is to pass on the basic principles of Celtic art as defined by George Bain's original techniques and teachings. The workshops will be tutored by Burgess and Fiona Hay, professional artists who, like Bain, have devoted a great deal of their careers to the study of authentic Celtic techniques. The cost of the evening sessions is £7.50 per person, and this includes all materials. To book a place, please phone 01463 811883, or email groamhouse[AT]ecosse.net

Primary schools will also benefit from the provision of loan boxes and teaching packs, which will be on offer as part of the workshop programme. These will provide simplified, stand-alone versions of the workshops, and will enable teachers and group leaders to pass on these fascinating skills to a large number of participants throughout the special year of cultural celebrations and beyond.

The programme of exhibitions and activities will be complemented by a lecture on the life and work of George Bain. The lecture, presented by Susan Seright, curator of Groam House Museum, will take place on Wednesday, 14 March at 7pm in the Swanson Gallery. Susan has played a key role in the acquisition of the Bain Collection and, through her research of Bain's work and connections with his family, she has become a principal expert in this field. According to Susan, "This exhibition project will represent a fitting high point in the unique relationship that the museum has developed with the memory of George Bain and his surviving family over the last 10 years." Susan's newly revised booklet on the life of George Bain will be available at each exhibition venue.

For full details of the exhibition tour, please email groamhouse[AT]ecosse.net or visit the website at www.groamhouse.org

The 'George Bain - A Highland Homecoming' project has been made possible through the financial support of the following organisations: Highland 2007, The Highland Council, the HIE Network, Awards for All, Cromarty Arts Trust, the Caithness British Association for the Advancement of Science, and Walker Metalsmiths, USA.

The touring exhibition will visit the following locations:
Swanson Gallery, Thurso: 23 February - 24 March
St. Fergus Gallery, Wick: 31 March - 21 April
Iona Gallery, Kingussie: 28 April - 26 May
Glenurquhart Community School: 2 June - 22 September
Timespan, Helmsdale: 29 September - 27 October