Spring Fling at Shambellie House
We are hosting two incredible artists at Shambellie House for this year’s Spring Fling. Caroline McGonigal and Ruth Clayton will be at Shambellie from the 27th – 29th of May.
Studio 67. Caroline McGonigal
Caroline is a professional artist based in Fife having grown up more locally in Kirkcudbright. Her paintings are inspired by movement and change in water and the ephemeral in nature. Inspiration has come from travelling to Arctic Norway and Iceland, but recent work focuses on the natural world closer to home and the unobserved details around us. Caroline has said of her practice, “I love to walk the coastline and I spend a lot of time photographing on beaches, in rock pools and even under the surface of the water. Sometimes I work closely from these images to create a realistic painting, and at other times, I use multiple photos as references and the work takes on a life of its own. When painting in oils, I tend to work in thin layers to create interest and depth. At other times I work outdoors and harness nature in order to make part of a mixed media work. This could be wind drawing or using the elements like rain or snow.”
Studio 68. Ruth Clayton
Ruth is watercolourist fascinated by nature’s force and find the ocean mesmerising. Her work tries to capture the ‘energy’ of the sea in my paintings and focus on the texture and patterns that the water makes. Watercolour is a great medium for her subject matter: a perfect harmony. Ruth has said of her practice, “It pays to be patient with watercolour, as happy accidents can create beautiful effects. I have control but allow the paint to show me the way. I use quick sketches, various photographs, and memory to compose my large pieces of work. I usually work large and try not to overwork or force the way I paint, allowing the watercolour effects to appear naturally on the paper. I sometimes use a few techniques, like salt, to enhance these effects.”
