TV break for Thurso artist

THURSO artist Lindsey Gallacher is going from strength to strength after a recent television appearance and creating a new work currently that has caused quite a stir locally.

Though she didn't make it to the next round on Sky Arts series Portrait Artist of the Year 2019, Lindsey's scratchboard portrait of rapper and actor Asher D was one of the three favourites picked by the judging panel. Asher D said Lindsey had made him "look like a king" and was obviously delighted with the portrait created during a four-hour period of intense scrutiny by the show's presenters, judges and members of the public allowed in to witness the event at a prestigious London gallery.

Lindsey was chosen from hundreds of contenders to compete against eight other artists in the second heat of the show, produced by Storyvault Films and presented by actor and art-lover Stephen Mangan alongside Dame Joan Bakewell. The self-portrait which won her a place on the show was highlighted by the presenters with Stephen Mangan comparing it to the well-known masterpiece by Grant Wood called American Gothic. "Believe it or not I was about to bin that one but changed my mind and sent it into the show."

Talking in her studio-workshop on Saturday, Lindsey said she gave out a loud exclamation of delight when picked by the judging panel. "They obviously edited that bit out. It was a real surprise but I was glad to get that far."

Lindsey admitted to being nervous before the event and said she had never done a portrait from life like this.

"I knew if I got the outline done properly the rest would follow and it was just a matter of taking it slowly."

She said she worried there might be negative remarks on social media like some of the other artists had received.

"I actually went onto Twitter and was looking for the more critical feedback which is pretty ridiculous when you think about it. On the whole it was fine though."

Lindsey said numerous local people have been popping into her shop on Thurso's Swanson Street to congratulate her on the "great accolade" of being on the prestigious show.

The medium Lindsey used for the Asher D portrait is called scratchboard with the finished result having a distinct style but slightly resembling woodcut printing.

One of her latest works shows Thurso worthie David Miller, known locally as "Doupy Dan", walking through a distinctively Caithness countryside. "The background is no particular place but is based on my memories of walking through similar places as a child. This particular work has been getting a lot of interest too."

Lindsey's portrait of the late character is called "Walking" and is included in an exhibition currently showing at The Art Gallery in Thurso Library by the Society of Caithness Artists (Sca). The show, called Journeys, includes works by a variety of Sca members and runs until March 30.

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