A Moment In Time - Exhibition
8th April 2012
'A moment in time', an exhibition of work by two Latheronwheel artists got off to a flying start at the North Lands Creative Glass gallery at Quatre Bras, Lybster on Friday evening. A collection of paintings by Jane McDonough and photographic prints by Angus Mackay proved a big attraction, with over 100 people attending the preview night.
Jane lived and worked as a Graphic Designer and Illustrator in Manchester for over 10 years before moving to Caithness in 2008. She is a self-taught artist and has been drawing and painting for as long as she can remember. "Since moving to Caithness I have been inspired to develop my painting style and what better inspiration than the big dramatic skies and lonely landscapes," said Jane.
"Painting is very special to me. I find it calming, sometimes frustrating and always a challenge. My feelings, emotions and memories are in the foundations of my work and I combine these with the ever-changing skies and colours around me to capture the essence of the landscape on an intuitive level. Sometimes words from a poem or song can evoke a feeling or emotion which can also be a starting point for my creativity."
"I was delighted when North Lands asked me if I would be interested in exhibiting my most recent work with Angus Mackay - his photograph of the Clan Gunn Museum led me to paint 'Lost where the wind blows'. Angus and I seem to share an understanding of the beauty of Caithness, how its landscapes and imagery stir the soul and capture the heart. In these paintings I aim to portray how a sense of the 'past' of Caithness is merging with my 'present' to form 'A Moment in Time'."
Angus said, "As a full-time freelance photographer, covering a range of commissions from weddings to commercial and PR work, I am always very aware of the requirements of the client and the importance of satisfying their wishes. Although I love my job, it is sometimes easy, when I am shooting for others, to lose sight of what made me pick up my first camera."
"The images I am exhibiting, however, are an eclectic and indulgent mix of what catches my eye, and evoke thoughts, memories or questions. The invitation to co-exhibit at North Lands, along with Jane McDonough, has been a grand excuse for me to remember the wise words of William Henry Davies who observed, "A poor life this, if full of care, we have no time to stand and stare." It's amazing what we can see when we take the time to look."
"I was brought up in Altnaharra, Sutherland but we moved to Braemore in 1978 and I now live in Latheronwheel. I have been very fortunate to have lived in such wonderful places, each with different qualities, all of which have influenced me and my work. The brush strokes of my co-exhibitor, Jane McDonough, wonderfully capture the beauty and splendour of our landscapes and the big and dramatic skies that surround us."
Lorna O'Brien of North Lands Creative Glass said, "We are keen to support and promote local artists so are delighted to showcase the work of Jane and Angus in the North Lands Creative Glass Gallery. Their works are of exceptional character, complementing each other and skilfully evoking the unique beauty, history and dramatic scenery of the Caithness landscape."
The exhibition will run from Monday to Friday, 10 am to 4 pm, until the 20th April. For future exhibitions check North Lands website at www.northlandsglass.com