My involvement in recent Dalkeith Arts projects

It has been an incredibly busy and exciting period for me and Dalkeith Arts.

When Mary, our Chairwoman, asked me to become Secretary I was delighted to accept.

We designed and implemented our new modern logo just in time to be released on our new website: https://www.dalkeitharts.co.uk/

Dalkeith Arts, together with One Dalkeith, combined art and history to create a beautiful visual memorial of a horrible epoch in the town's history. We commissioned ten local artists to each paint a panel. The panels depict six of the many women who were accused and executed for witchcraft in Dalkeith. The remaining four include a portrait of the local “witch pricker", and the last three are of iconic buildings in Dalkeith - The Watchtower, St Nicholas Buccleuch Church, and The Tolbooth (my painting - more to follow). The witch trials were at their peak in the 1600s and six real women's names were chosen to represent all of the women and men who were executed in Dalkeith. We have been astounded at the interest and publicity for this project. Here are some of the articles:

https://wildhunt.org/2020/10/dalkeith-artists-give-faces-to-accused-witches-in-scotland.html

https://www.scotsman.com/heritage-and-retro/heritage/portraits-scottish-witches-revealed-2988070

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m000n6rt Tune into BBC Radio 4 “The World tonight show“. Mary Blair, Margaret Bitici and I were interviewed by Paul Moss. If you don’t want to listen to the whole show we are on 38 minutes in.

I really enjoyed talking to the general public as the panels were being erected on the outside of the One Dalkeith building. In a time of disruption caused by Covid-19, it is wonderful to be involved with the creation of an art exhibition that the public can see without having to be inside. I like that we can spread a bit of happiness and increase knowledge of the town’s history through art, in what is currently a difficult period. Given the current economic hardships, it is also important to me that the exhibition is free. I find myself thinking about these women a lot now and the persecution they endured. I have no doubt that had I lived in those times, I too would be executed for being a witch due to my outspoken-ness, affinity to animals, and love of nature. I often find myself doing things that I have no doubt others would consider strange in the name of art. For example, last week I was wandering around our estate with my children spraying varnish on dandelion clocks (in order to preserve them in resin) whilst telling nosey dogs to leave my dandelions alone! I am sure this wouldn’t help perceptions of me if I was living in the 1600s, and before anybody says anything, yes I do know spray varnish wasn’t available in the 1600s!

Roll on another week and we are painting bees on the planters in Jarnac Court just because we can and want to brighten up the area we live in.

We also have our work in “The Bank - of Dalkeith”. It is definitely a good place to visit in Dalkeith for cake, coffee, gifts and pampering.

Dalkeith Arts new logo

Just finished my Tolbooth panel

Information panel for the Memoral panels

My Tolbooth painting in final position

Midlothian Advertiser article 1/10/2020

Painting bees in Jarnac Court, Dalkeith

See Dalkeith Arts work in “The Bank of Dalkeith”

Willows Animal Sanctuary

I am pleased to announce that I am donating one of my paintings to help save Willows Animal Sanctuary http://www.willowsanimals.com/m/mtop.html?fromGiftAidDeclaration=. 

Due to Corona Virus, Willows Sanctuary, near Aberdeen had to close to visitors and the charity is struggling to make enough money to feed and care for their rescued animals.  If you want to help please do have a look at their auction site: https://www.facebook.com/helpsavewillows/ The auction runs from 7pm on 29 April to 7pm on 3 May.

This is the specific link to my painting: https://www.facebook.com/101203151552178/posts/119575196381640/?d=n

It still needs to cure before being signed, the final coat applied and then framed. The auction winner gets to name the piece.

There are some amazing items for auction including vegan biscuits, votch watch, signed albums, books signed by David Thewlis, Emma Thompson, Nadiya Hussein, David Mitchell, Stephen Fry and Michaela Strachan.  

Covid-19

What does an artist do during lockdown for the Corona Virus? Firstly, I catch Covid-19, stay in bed for a week and then spend at least another week recovering. I might as well get it over and done with quickly. Secondly, I make the biggest sculpture I’ve ever made. I thought it would be a good idea to make a big colourful rainbow as a shout out to all the key workers for continuing their hard work throughout the Corona Virus. Hopefully it will prompt a few smiles around the estate. I added the crystals to create some extra little dancing rainbows and I’m delighted to report that it works. Not a bad creation from some old jeans, old pipe and garden canes!

I like seeing the stitching and pockets from the jeans here and there.

I love the little dancing rainbows that the crystals create.

This is how the rainbow started.

My helper.

My other helper.

“Alone”

As a selling artist, I believe you shouldn’t get overly precious or attached to your work. If you do then you end up with a house full of your own creations and have no room to enjoy the work of others. This is the first piece that I’ve made in a while that I’m struggling to let go of. Doh! 😣 It was an experimental sculpture made with Powertex and designed to sit on a shelf or architrave. Perhaps I love this piece so much because it’s the first time I’ve used Powertex and it’s the first item that I’ve completed in my new studio. The shadows and highlights have really accentuated the detail in the material and I love his gnarly wee hands. He’s approximately 25cm high. I’ve called the piece “Alone”. To sell or not to sell, that is the question… 🤔

PwC Panto - Treasure Island

That’s my involvement in PwC Panto done for another year so I’m awaiting the inevitable Panto Blues. This is the third year that I have been involved and I’m still blown away by the sheer talent and dedication of 200 PwC staff and alumni. It really is an amazing production with staff creating all aspects of the show - script, directing,choreography, sets, wardrobe, acting, props and of course, my favourite, makeup! I believe we also need to recognise the impact that it has on our families. Without Cliff running the show at home there’s no way that I could be involved. 😘

Every year #pwcpanto gives away over 8000 tickets to inner city schools and communitity groups, who otherwise would not have a chance to see live theatre. I’m delighted to have been part of the hair and make up team again this year and leave you with a few images of my involvement - Billy Bones (with an amazing East Kilbride accent 😂), Pew, Sandra (and Barb 🤣), Island Chief and of course Cedric the Octopus.  What an absolute honour and privilege to be involved in bringing the octopus in the costume design of our school competition winners to life.

For those of you on tour to Nottingham, have fun and break a leg! I’m off to sort out my hundreds of photos and videos…

https://www.pwc.co.uk/who-we-are/pantomime.html

Completed Art Studio

I arrived home tonight, following a week in London, to a finished art studio - yipppppeeeee! To say I’m excited doesn’t really cover it. Cliff has worked his wee bottom off to get it finished and I’m delighted with the result. The floor and workbench are recycled Junkers Beech from Heriot Watt University which was rescued by Hargreaves Reclaimed Flooring following a flood in the gym. I love the quality of the wood and the random patterns and colours created by the various court lines. Now all I need to do is move in, have a studio warming party and get creating! Thanks Cliff. 😘

https://www.hargreavesreclaimedflooring.co.uk

My new Etsy site

I am delighted to say that I managed to get my Etsy site built yesterday in order to sell my crafts. At the moment it is all needle felting. Please have a look if you have a spare minute. Feedback is welcome!