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PICTURE SPECIAL: Thurso art show has everything from sycamore sculptures to hammerhead sharks in potholes





The Society of Caithness Artists (SCA) celebrated its 89th annual exhibition by putting on the “largest show of its kind in recent memory”.

The opening night saw over 300 visitors, a record number of works sold at 52, and a turnover of just over £6000.

“With 106 artists displaying a total of 376 artworks, this combination has resulted in the Society of Caithness Artists exhibition for 2024 being the largest in recent memory,” said SCA chair Ian Pearson.

Chair of the art show Ian Pearson beside his enigmatic glass creations. Picture: DGS
Chair of the art show Ian Pearson beside his enigmatic glass creations. Picture: DGS
Fiona Crossley's striking acrylic Jesus 4 Us. Picture: DGS
Fiona Crossley's striking acrylic Jesus 4 Us. Picture: DGS
Su Edwards with examples of her stoneware bowls next to her. Picture: DGS
Su Edwards with examples of her stoneware bowls next to her. Picture: DGS
Penny Irvine is a regular at the arts events in Thurso. Picture: DGS
Penny Irvine is a regular at the arts events in Thurso. Picture: DGS
Caroline Swan has a topical take on potholes with 'A Dirge of Potholes' on the right. Picture: DGS
Caroline Swan has a topical take on potholes with 'A Dirge of Potholes' on the right. Picture: DGS
Twelve-year-old Martha Pott's with a surreal sculpture based on a Caithness pothole. Picture: DGS
Twelve-year-old Martha Pott's with a surreal sculpture based on a Caithness pothole. Picture: DGS

Thurso and Northwest Caithness councillor Matthew Reiss said: “I have walked around it twice and, though I’m not an artistic person myself, sometimes a painting or sculpture just jumps out at me.

“It’s a once-a-year event and it’s really crowded today with lots of entries and many red dots appearing for works that have been sold.”

The local councillor added that it was a “lovely social event” and it was good to see that there were young people selling work as it was a “great boost for their confidence”.

Martha Potts, age 12, sold all of her paintings on the opening night. Picture: DGS
Martha Potts, age 12, sold all of her paintings on the opening night. Picture: DGS
A Caithness Postcard by James McIntosh. Picture: DGS
A Caithness Postcard by James McIntosh. Picture: DGS
A humorous oil on canvas by James McIntosh called 'Eating out in Thurso' featuring seagulls partying with chips at the harbour. Picture: DGS
A humorous oil on canvas by James McIntosh called 'Eating out in Thurso' featuring seagulls partying with chips at the harbour. Picture: DGS
Professional artist Ian Charles Scott was displaying three of his paintings which were drawing great attention from visitors. Ian has one of his works currently on display at an international show in Italy. Picture: DGS
Professional artist Ian Charles Scott was displaying three of his paintings which were drawing great attention from visitors. Ian has one of his works currently on display at an international show in Italy. Picture: DGS

The exhibition opened on Monday, July 22 at the ETEC building which is part of the college campus. Visitors and artists heard speeches by Mr Pearson along with Debbie Miller who is vice principal for operations at UHI North, West and Hebrides.

This year’s exhibition sees two innovative displays, one devoted to the subject of quilting. The exhibition’s venue has created ‘The Quilt Room’ with a colourful display of local talent. “Textile art has long been a part of these exhibitions and the art of piecing and quilting is celebrated in 2024 with exhibits from quilters from across the county,” said the SCA chair.

A colourful display of quilts from a variety of Caithness creatives. Picture: DGS
A colourful display of quilts from a variety of Caithness creatives. Picture: DGS

“Isobel McBay’s 365 quilt shows what can be achieved from a starting point of stitching a quilt block every day for a year. There are other large bed quilts, with applique flowers blooming in Barbara Sandison’s ‘Lombok Garden’. Smaller quilted items include Lyn Ball’s colourful ‘Ten Minutes Round the Block’ and Sue Morrissey’s octagonal table centre made from Batik fabrics.”

Artist Katie Squires has recreated a smaller version of her installation first seen at Lyth Arts Centre earlier this year titled ‘Inspired by Books’. Picture: DGS
Artist Katie Squires has recreated a smaller version of her installation first seen at Lyth Arts Centre earlier this year titled ‘Inspired by Books’. Picture: DGS

Artist Katie Squires has recreated a smaller version of her installation first seen at Lyth Arts Centre earlier this year titled ‘Inspired by Books’. Katie has taken over a complete room upstairs in the gallery and transformed it into a personal space for her creative visions.

Visitors are encouraged to go into the room for a truly immersive experience and have their photograph taken in the photo booth. The whole concept revolves around Katie’s love for books and recreates certain scenes using her skills as a printmaker.

“The aim was to have an immersive exhibition, so that’s why there are so many different things. There are works in clay, prints, 3D and videos. There’s a screen booth that people can go in as well,” said the artist who had backing from Creative Scotland and Lyth Arts Centre.

Many familiar artist names are exhibiting alongside new names, some of which are showing their work for the first time. The diversity of media on show ranges from 3D work such as wood, metal, ceramics, and glass which compliments the art on show where watercolours, oils and acrylics dominate with landscapes being very popular.

One of the SCA regulars, Elaine Rapson-Grant, talked about one of her seascape paintings on display: “My thoughts turned to childhood when painting this acrylic canvas.

Elaine Rapson-Grant is a regular at the Thurso art show. She talked about the painting on the right called 'Sing with the Gulls'. Picture: DGS
Elaine Rapson-Grant is a regular at the Thurso art show. She talked about the painting on the right called 'Sing with the Gulls'. Picture: DGS

“Having moved from city life to Scrabster at the young age of six and then experiencing for the first time a small fishing harbour, as it was then, with its clean fresh sea air and bustling life when the fishing boats came in with their catch – well, quite honestly my heart was singing with the seagulls, as I thought I had arrived in heaven.

“Sometimes, even now, when I’m down at the sea listening to the seagulls and lapping of the waves, I am right back there and six years old. This piece commemorates that lovely happy memory and is titled ‘Sing With The Gulls’.”

Aileen Paton has two of her works on display in which she utilises newsprint. Picture: DGS
Aileen Paton has two of her works on display in which she utilises newsprint. Picture: DGS
Mike Weedon has a keen eye for colourful subject matter and is not afraid of pursuing different styles with varied techniques. Picture: DGS
Mike Weedon has a keen eye for colourful subject matter and is not afraid of pursuing different styles with varied techniques. Picture: DGS
'Say cheese!'. Artist Ian C Scott takes a snap of Denise Imrie, wife of the late former chair of SCA Mike Imrie. Picture: DGS
'Say cheese!'. Artist Ian C Scott takes a snap of Denise Imrie, wife of the late former chair of SCA Mike Imrie. Picture: DGS
Professional artist Leah Davis' colourful pop art style. Picture: DGS
Professional artist Leah Davis' colourful pop art style. Picture: DGS
There was a huge turnout for Monday's opening night. Picture: DGS
There was a huge turnout for Monday's opening night. Picture: DGS
Young Marta Potts hilarious work called Caithness Pothole. A hammerhead shark swims in the pothole along with some pigs and other bits and bobs. Picture: DGS
Young Marta Potts hilarious work called Caithness Pothole. A hammerhead shark swims in the pothole along with some pigs and other bits and bobs. Picture: DGS

There are many thought-provoking works on display and unsurprisingly potholes have been used by more than a couple of artists as subject matter. Both amateurs and professionals sit side by side in this exhibition, sharing the same space and offering each visitor a fully creative and imaginative experience.

Mr Pearson explained that this year the SCA is paying tribute to a fellow artist Sophie Glauser who passed away last year and was a regular exhibitor. At the opening, Sophie’s partner Liz Day attended and explained the work that Sophie was involved in immediately before her passing.

Lisa Critchley has four works on show. Picture: DGS
Lisa Critchley has four works on show. Picture: DGS
Wooden sculptures by Andy Bunn. Picture: DGS
Wooden sculptures by Andy Bunn. Picture: DGS
Mike Grain with two local harbour scenes in watercolour. Picture: DGS
Mike Grain with two local harbour scenes in watercolour. Picture: DGS
Mick O’Donnell's sculpted from spalted sycamore for these creations. Picture: DGS
Mick O’Donnell's sculpted from spalted sycamore for these creations. Picture: DGS

The exhibition is open daily from 3pm until 8pm, except Sundays, until Friday, August 2. It is free to enter and as the SCA chair explains: “Further exhibitions of this nature and size, which are fully inclusive, demonstrate how important art is within the county.

“With new faces participating, it also shows that the future of art and the Society is secure regardless of government restrictions on budgets.”

The SCA looks forward to celebrating 90 years of exhibiting next year.

The ETEC building at UHI campus where the exhibition is being held. Picture: DGS
The ETEC building at UHI campus where the exhibition is being held. Picture: DGS

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