'It's a great advert for Caithness' – Art show in Thurso shows there is a thriving market in the county

By David G Scott

Published: 12:56, 28 July 2023

| Updated: 13:00, 28 July 2023

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The annual exhibition by the Society of Caithness Artists (SCA) kicked off on Monday evening in Thurso and showed the true vibrancy and diversity of local creativity.

The show is currently on until August 4 at the UHI North Highland College ETEC building in Thurso and entry is free.

Thurso and Northwest Caithness councillor Matthew Reiss paid a visit to the exhibition and said: "It's lovely to see that the entries are up and it's pretty obvious to me, as a complete amateur, that the quality is really good. The paintings and different types of art advertise Caithness brilliantly as well. And that's not just with the artists but with the styles and qualities of the works as well."

Thurso and Northwest Caithness councillor Matthew Reiss paid a visit to the show and said it was a great 'advert' for the county. Picture: DGS

Ian Pearson talks to one of the many visitors to the Society of Caithness Artists annual exhibition on Monday evening. Picture: DGS

The lower gallery at the Society of Caithness Artists annual exhibition in the UHI ETEC building, Thurso. Picture: DGS

Debbie Prentice used a Warholesque pop art style for this homage to Shakin' Stevens called 'Shaky, you drive me Crazy'. 'I know pop art has been done to death but I just wanted to put my own spin on it and Shaky has been such a great influence on me,' she said. Picture: DGS

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Don Clarke creates studies of coastal features from the Caithness shoreline. 'These paintings are based on the poem on the rocks at Sannick by Nobel Prize-winning poet Pablo Neruda. I like the contrast between the fluidity of the water and the solidity of the rocks.' Picture: DGS

Jackie Newton's work is based on a historic photograph she was given by Robert Maitland and is called 'Digging for Bait (Thurso Beach)'. 'The old man digging is my husband's great grandfather. He was the harbourmaster at Scrabster.' Picture: DGS

Magi Sinclair who is well-known for her Flow Country scenes shows four representations of local nature. Landscapes at Braemore and Burrigill stand alongside colourful studies of flowers. Picture: DGS

Jackie Phares shows her mixed textile and embroidery works representing Dunnet Head and Holborn Head. 'It's all part of the joy in touching them,' she said. Picture: DGS

The front desk at the Society of Caithness Artists annual exhibition at the UHI ETEC building in Thurso. Picture: DGS

Professional artist Helen Moore is well-known for her haunting industrial landscapes. These images are based on forgotten corners of Caithness. 'They're buildings you might walk past but I like these everyday scenes and notice the beauty within them.' Picture: DGS

Mike Weeden from Wick has adapted his style for the four paintings he has on display. 'It's taken a long time to get this drawing technique that I call my own,' he said. Picture: DGS

SCA chairman Ian Pearson said: "There is a thriving market in Caithness for art and art lovers. Therefore, there is a business model here of having an art gallery in Caithness."

Ian remarked on the importance of the SCA and the exhibitions staged at the North Coast Visitor Centre in Thurso but lamented the loss of the gallery space in Thurso Library which closed earlier this year due to "soaring costs". Formerly known as Swanson Art Gallery, the venue was located in the back of the town's library and featured many shows by local and international artists with the last exhibition, called Spring, taking place in April. "The Society of Caithness Artists fills the gap and others do not even recognise that fact," he added.

From left, art aficionado and antique expert Robert Maitland, with SCA chair Ian Pearson and artist Peter Hadfield. Picture: DGS

Peter Hadfield with his mixed media work 'The Drug and/or Alcohol Problem' which he says depicts the lengths an addict will go to to get his fix. Despite a passing resemblance to Tony Blair, Peter says it is a fictional figure represented. Picture: DGS

Elizabeth Lay is an established artist in her own right and commissioned David Rosie to make this portrait of her. 'Sometimes I think I'm invisible but not with this. I fell I have some substance now,' she said. Picture: DGS

Mike Weeden's work called 'Farewell to the Holocene' is a statement about a past era of sustainability and the decline of the planet. Picture: DGS

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Society of Caithness Artists annual exhibition at the UHI ETEC building in Thurso. Picture: DGS

Penny Irvine with four of her works called Peace, Tranquility, Whimsy and Grace. The hare has been compared to a famous work by 16th century German artist Albrecht Durer. Picture: DGS

Elaine Rapson-Grant with her display of flowers in resin set on canvas. She describes them as unique 'experimental' works. Picture: DGS

Aileen Paton created these works using old newspapers. 'They give a lovely undulating surface and I like the way it takes the paint. I put on blocks of colour and use a redactive process to take some away and push the paint to the edge of the paper.' Picture: DGS

Ian talked about one of his complex glass creations called 'On the way to Seventy – Spot the Legend'. "I'm celebrating my 70 years in September and the idea is I'm going to make one human figure for every year I've been here. I'm halfway there but I'll have 70 figures by September. Each figure represents a symbolic moment in my life."

He said that the exhibition is larger than last year with 348 works on show from 112 artists who all have Caithness connections. "We're very pleased that the UHI campus have invited us back again and we look forward to working with them again. We have a great diversity of media here with 3D and 2D work that starts at £12 and goes up to £3000 – there's something for everyone here. Our youngest exhibitor is eight-years-old and our oldest is round about 85.""

Martha Potts (11) is homeschooled and was taught drawing and painting by well-known Thurso artist Jackie Newton. All of Martha's works sold on the night. Picture: DGS

At age 11, Martha Potts may be one of the youngest exhibitors but she created this dreamlike landscape that was a highlight of the show. Picture: DGS

There are not many that can say they sold all their works on the night but 11-year-old wunderkind Martha Potts had her three watercolours snapped up. Martha lives in Thurso, is homeschooled and was taught drawing and painting by well-known local artist Jackie Newton. "I go round to see her and we have an hour-and-a-half lesson," said Martha.

The young artist uses gold leaf and pen with the watercolour paint to make vibrant images. "I'm really excited and have never shown any of my work before."

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