Category: Society of Scottish Artists

We Won an Award

Artists, Rebekah Tolley-Georgiou and Gill Walton have collaborated to create ‘Sotto Voce,’ a large-scale, multimedia artwork incorporating vintage star cluster images and ancient dog roses. Printed on quality rag paper and overlaid with drawing, pigments and gold and silver, it recently won the Past Presidents Prize at the Society of Scottish Artists Annual Exhibition. The artists intend to produce more pieces, with an exhibition planned for 2024/25. The artwork is available for sale until January 2024.

Recently, I have been collaborating with my long time friend and colleague, Rebekah Tolley-Georgiou, to create a couple of large scale, complex, beautiful pieces. They are a combination of my drawing and Rebekah’s skills with mixed media composing. She included (amongst other things) vintage glass plate negatives of star clusters taken through a telescope in the 1800s and dog wood flowers that died more than 200 years ago. The resulting image was printed onto highest quality archival rag paper, we then both worked over the top of the image with drawings and pigments and gold and silver leaf.

We are very proud of this work, we feel she is magnificent in all the details, from the stars to the tiniest flower. Our goddess is quiet but oh, so powerful, hence the title ‘Sotto Voce’

To our delight ‘Sotto Voce II’ was chosen to be exhibited in this year’s Society of Scottish Artists Annual Exhibition at the MacLaurin Galleries in Ayr this year and to further that delight, she won an award!

The Prize was awarded by Kate Downie PPSSA RSA, she stated that she was moved by the way our piece held her presence. “it is a very detailed piece but she holds sway over the room and has a quiet power.” Just what we thought Kate!

Rebekah and I have set the intention to produce much more work together next year with a view to holding an exhibition of the series in 2024/25.

The piece is currently available for sale from the MacLaurin Gallery until January 2024

I also have two pieces in the 30×30 online exhibition which runs alongside the annual exhibition.

  • The Alchemist’s Pot- 2023- Graphite, beeswax and bronze- 30cm x 30cm, £320
  • Vessel Hand Eye_2023_GraphiteBeeswaxBronze_26cmx30cm, £320

In other news

Two of my Alchemy series are currently in the Winter Exhibition at the Graystone Gallery in Stockbridge, Edinburgh. This is a new gallery in a very beautiful space and a great location. The exhibition runs until the 25th January and includes many wonderful Scottish artists. Pay a visit if you can.

Keep in touch because I will be busy next year. I am back at Borders Art Fair in March and Inception in May with a new series of work based on Reliquaries.

Next! Inception at Dalkeith

It is spring and Art Fair season is in full flow. Thank you to everyone who came to Borders Art Fair (BAF), it was lovely to see you, and an especially warm thanks to everyone who supported Rebekah (my co-exhibitor) and myself by collecting a piece of art.

BAF do a lot of activities around the exhibition including recorded demonstrations and workshops by some of their finest artists, including me! You will find me talking about the artistic process, the evolution of ideas and how I produce my graphite and beeswax drawings. The video is still available.

Inception Art Show

Next up: JOIN ME AT INCEPTION ART SHOW || The exhibition returns to Dalkeith Palace from 4th – 14th May 2023. This year offers an extended programme and beautifully curated collection of sculptors, artists, photographers and painters. Hosted by Dalkeith Country Palace, this really is an art extravaganza and could fill a whole day.

Tickets are now available for the exhibition and a spectacular Art & Supper evening with Richard Demarco, Artist-led Workshops and Curator & Palace tours.

The programme also features an online charity auction, which opens on 24th April, raising funds for Make 2nds Count, a breast cancer charity. I will be auctioning my drawing ‘Response To Rodin’.

I was asked by the Society of Scottish Artists (SSA) to produce this as a response to Rodin’s portrait head of Victor Hugo, it was exhibited alongside the original Rodin sculpture at their Annual Exhibition at the Royal Scottish Academy, Edinburgh.

Rodin’s head of Victor Hugo with my drawing behind it

It was an honour to be in such a prestigious exhibition and I am happy to be able to offer it for auction. The rest of my work can be found upstairs in The Queen’s Bedroom.

Inception is open from 10am – 4pm daily from 4th – 14th May 2023. Entrance tickets cost £3 and are now on sale. To book your tickets for the exhibition or events please visit their website. I hope to see you there!

I’d love to invite you to the evening private view on Friday 5th of May. Ensure you specify the date when you RSVP becasue there is a separate corporate event:

Open Studio Weekend 5th to 8th August 2022

It is with great pleasure and anticipation (tinged with a hint of sadness) that I announce my final open studio weekend at The Artist’s House this August.

  • Friday 5th 11am – 6pm
  • Saturday 6th 11am – 6pm
  • Sunday 7th 11am – 6pm
  • Monday 8th 11am – 2pm

No need to book, everyone will be made welcome. Refreshments will be available for a small donation.

If you cannot make it or wish to pre-order work, please visit my Available Work page and get in touch. There is a range of limited-edition prints also available.

You will find me at The Artist’s House, Allanbank, Duns, Scottish Borders, TD11 3PY.

My house and studio is going on the market shortly and, as it is already clean and tidy, I have decided to open it up to the public one last time so you can help me wish the place a fond farewell.

There are other events over the same weekend within a short walk of my house.

Register on Eventbrite

Three Art Fairs and an Exhibition!

Last year was a very successful year for me, I was awarded a residency at Marchmont House, was selected for some very prestigious exhibitions and was appointed a professional member of the Society of Scottish Artists. I won’t be resting on my laurels this year, I already have three art fairs and a major art exhibition lined up and all before the end of May!

Last year was a very successful year for me, I was awarded a residency at Marchmont House, was selected for some very prestigious exhibitions and was appointed a professional member of the Society of Scottish Artists. I won’t be resting on my laurels this year, I already have three art fairs and a major art exhibition lined up and all before the end of May!

Borders Art Fair

It is so pleasing to be back at the Borders Art Fair. I don’t have to travel too far for it and always see many lovely familiar faces, I hope yours is one of them. I have also recorded a workshop and an artist’s talk for them. It is all on their website, have a look.

  • bordersartfair.com
  • Border Events Centre
  • Springwood Park, Kelso
  • Stand 62
  • 25th to 27th March 2022

The Heriot Gallery is a ‘must-see’ gallery next to Greyfriars Art Shop on Dundas Street in Edinburgh. It is painted Tardis Blue and just like the Tardis it is much bigger on the inside than it looks on the outside. They will be taking some of my graphite and silver Breath Series on the long journey down to London. I hope they have a successful fair.

Glasgow Contemporary Art Fair

The Glasgow Contemporary Art Fair is in a beautiful white marquee situated in the grounds of the amazing Kelvingrove museum. I last did the GCAF in 2019 and almost sold out so I am really looking forward to this one and finding a few moments to wander around one of the best museum galleries in Scotland. It would make a wonderful day out .

  • gcaf.co.uk
  • Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum
  • Glasgow
  • stand number to be confirmed
  • 27th to 29th May 2022

Inception II Art Exhibition

Following on from the success of the first Inception show The Palace team have invited a selection of the finest artists from the UK and beyond for an exhibition hung throughout the palace. I am so delighted that they want me back again this year, especially as the Duke of Buccleuch himself bought one of my Breath Series from the first exhibition (those of you who know me well know that I am so chuffed at being in his collection alongside Rembrandt and da Vinci etc.).

I hope to see some of you at any or all of these events, especially as I really won’t be getting out much beforehand, I will be starved of company and chained to my studio.

Look out for more details about each one in advance and make sure you are signed up to my newsletter.

Gill

Visit the 123rd SSA Annual Exhibition at the RSA, Edinburgh

I am just back from the opening of this exciting show. It is SSA’s main showcase of some of the most exceptional work coming out of Scotland and round the world.

My ‘Life’s Breath’ can be found in a fantastic space that really highlights the work at the top of the front stairs in the first hall.

More information can be found at the SSA website.

Exhibition Dates:
1 – 23 November 2021

Opening Times:
Monday to Saturday 10-5pm, Sunday 12-5pm (last entry 30 minutes prior to closing)

Venue:
Upper Galleries
The Royal Scottish Academy
The Mound
Edinburgh
EH2 2EL

£4 | £3 concessions (+booking fees)
Free Entry for SSA Members (limited tickets available per day, please book in advance)
Free entry for all on Mondays

30 x 30

Alongside the main exhibition is the ever-popular SSA 30 x 30 small works display, offering a fantastic varied selection of small works for sale at £350 or less. I have three pieces in this section this year:

  • Adeola, £350
  • Artemesia, £300
  • Sophonisba, £300

Road Trip

Road Trip is a collaborative artwork which has journeyed around Scotland connecting artists and communities during our year of Covid. I am one of the SSA Sattelite Associates for the Scottish Borders and, as such, began this project. The painting is being raffled to support the Sattelite Programme. More details can be found on the SSA website.

Pause, an SSA exhibition


7 August – 5 September 2021
Click here to view the exhibition online

I am delighted that two of my Breath Series drawings have been chosen by the Society of Scottish Artists in their showcase exhibition to highlight the work from their dedicated team of Satellite Associate.

PAUSE

“The Satellite Associate program began in April 2020 and has established itself as a key component in supporting and representing our membership throughout Scotland. In this online exhibition we invite you to enjoy a moment of stillness; take time to consider, reflect and enjoy a small respite from the ever changing, ever moving world around us.”

Exhibitors: Jayne Austin | Louise Barrington | Rowena Comrie | Anoushka Havinden | Susie Hunt | Sandra Kennedy | Mary Morrison | Gemma Petrie | Carol Sinclair | Luke Vinnicombe | Gill Walton | Eve Watson | Denise Zygadlo

New website now live!

I have a new website! I have added new galleries describing some of the recent series I have been working on. My ‘Breath Series’ is now all in one place and easy to find. I am hoping you will find it much easier to navigate.

All the most recent events, awards and exhibitions are now in a blog on the home page so you can see what I have been up to.

You can also sign up to my email newsletter from the bottom of the homepage so you never need to miss another exhibition or open studio.

Professional Member of the Society of Scottish Artists

“The Presidents and Council of the Society of Scottish Artists are delighted to welcome the seven newly elected Professional Members for 2021, adding to the growing list of members working globally. The artists selected have shown development in their own field, dedication to professional practice and their continued evolvement within the Society. We would like to encourage their ongoing support of the Society in which we endeavour to support and encourage them to push their own practice in the coming years.”
Jamie McAteer and Olivia Turner | SSA Presidents.

You can learn more about each artist by following the links below. You will also have the opportunity to see their work at forthcoming SSA exhibitions.

Professional Artist Members are elected annually by a Professional Members Selection Committee and have previously been selected to exhibit in at least two SSA curated exhibitions. These artists represent a broad range of styles, and their work reflects the variety and vibrancy that can be found across the SSA membership.

Gill was delighted to be selected for professional membership in May this year.

She was also chosen by the SSA to be a satellite associate for the Scottish Borders in 2020.