Spring Fling has unveiled the full list of 61 artists and makers taking part in this year’s celebration of creativity from Dumfries and Galloway.
As Covid restrictions mean it will be a largely online event, rather than an open studios weekend attracting visitors from across the UK, many participants will highlight work inspired by the environment of Scotland’s rural south west (and much more besides).
Among them are landscape artist Angela Lawrence, from Castle Douglas, and semi-abstract landscape painter Caroline Hone, from near Kirkcudbright.
Angela said: “It’s such a wonderful place, with so much variety in its coasts and landscapes. I love the skies here, they are always changing, full of amazing clouds and so many different colours.
“Many people come to Spring Fling time and again because they enjoy having a break in such a beautiful part of Scotland and meeting up with artists who they have become friends with over the years.
“I think they will miss that at the moment, so even though they can’t come to our studios we are looking forward to letting them see art that’s inspired by a part of Scotland we all love.”
Angela is a former violinist who became a professional artist, and opened The Clience Studio, after returning to the UK from Finland and settling in Dumfries and Galloway. She has taken part in every Spring Fling since 2004.
Caroline previously lived in Cornwall and moved to the region four years ago – attracted by its spectacular scenery and its ever-changing appearance.
She said: “It’s always so different and magical and there’s so much space – I especially love those moments in winter when the sun pierces through and the hills are lit with electric colours; it’s just incredible.”
Work by both artists will be shown in online studios and at physical pop-ups which are planned for people living in the region to attend.
As ever Spring Fling will feature high-quality work by specially selected painters, original printmakers, photographers, jewellery makers, ceramicists, glass makers, textiles designers, woodworkers and others.
Joanna Macaulay, Assistant Director for Upland which runs Spring Fling, said: “We are delighted to share with the full line up of participants. Many artists and makers are inspired by the scenery and wildlife in Dumfries and Galloway – and one of the aims of Spring Fling has always been to introduce people to this beautiful region.
“Even though this year’s event is largely online, rather than open studios, we are doing all we can to give audiences the chance to join us in celebrating both the creativity and beauty of south west Scotland.”
Spring Fling, which is organised by Upland Arts Development, will feature virtual studios, an online exhibition, workshops, talks and demonstrations. The full programme will be published in coming weeks and include details of a special commission and pop-ups.
Joanna added: “With so much on offer we hope to attract audiences from all over the world to enjoy Spring Fling virtually and with local audiences at our pop-ups, special commission and workshops.
“We are very grateful to all the artists and makers who are showing such enormous support for an event that is a much-loved part of Scotland’s cultural calendar. Next year will be Spring Fling’s 20th year so we will hopefully see participants and audiences back in the studios then.”
- For further details visit www.spring-fling.co.uk.
- Picture by Colin Hattersley.
Ends
Notes for editors
For more about Caroline Hone see https://www.carolinehone.co.uk and Angela Lawrence see https://www.cliencestudio.co.uk/index.html
This year’s participants
Ceramics: Clare Dawdry, Fitch & McAndrew, Archie McCall, Ella McCreath, Ruth Jones, Hannah Spicer
Film: Rachel Shnapp, Sue Thomas, Sian Yeshe
Glass: Alan J Brockbank
Illustration: Lucy Hadley, Rory Laycock
Jewellery: Alison Macleod, Sheena McMaster, Kaz Robertson, Lisa Rothwell-Young, Natalie Vardey
Painting/drawing/mixed media: Ceri Allan, Maggie Ayres, Briony Anderson, Jennie Ashmore, Tricia Barna, Davy Brown, Anne Butler, Hazel Campbell, Janet Carson, Heather Davies, Ross Fulton , Elizabeth Gilbey, Bella Green, Diana de Gruyther, Julie Hollis, Caroline Hone, Sarah Keast, Angela Lawrence, Patti Lean, Hope London, Aileen MacEwan, Ian Mckinnel, Liz McQueen, Linda Mallett, Philippa Sinclair
Photography: Kim Ayres, Alistair Hamilton, Izzy Leach
Printmaking: Pamela Grace, Gail Kelly, Sarah Stewart, Emma Varley
Textiles: Deborah Campbell, Alison Corfield, Laura Derby, Jo Gallant, Morag Macpherson, Kay Ribbens, Astrid Weigel
Wood/willow: Daniel Lacey, Lizzie Farey, Peter Machell, Jay Rubinstein, Peter Smith
- Spring Fling is pleased to once again have the support from Dumfries and Galloway Council as one of the region’s Signature Events.
- Creative Scotland has also provided funding towards digital accessibility and to commission small-scale performance or installation. EventScotland is supporting the workshops, talks and pop-ups.
About Spring Fling
- Spring Fling made its name a Scotland’s premier visual art and contemporary craft open studios event covering all Dumfries and Galloway, South West Scotland. It is the flagship annual event of Upland CIC.
- Between 2003 and 2018 Spring Fling has attracted over 100,000 visitors who have made almost 300,000 studio visits.
- Over 16 years £1.9 million of art and craft has been bought in studios.
- The event has brought over £8.5 million to the local economy.
- For further details visit www.spring-fling.co.uk or contact [email protected]
About Upland
Upland CIC (Community Interest Company) supports artists and makers based in, and with connections to, the region. It delivers, events, training, networking, support and opportunities as part of a year-round programme to benefit the region, its artists, communities and economy. Upland CIC runs the annual Spring Fling contemporary visual art and craft open studios weekend in Dumfries and Galloway. It will work closely with other arts bodies in the region to further-strengthen the sector. Upland is based at Gracefield Arts Centre in Dumfries and exists to:
- produce and deliver festivals, events, and experimental projects of the highest quality
- nurture an environment where artistic excellence thrives and grows
- inspire and educate a wide range of audiences, customers and clients to understand, celebrate, be actively engaged in and supportive of visual art and craft practice
- raise the profile of visual artists and makers locally, nationally and internationally fulfilling a crucial role in the culture and tourism of Dumfries and Galloway
- build strategic partnerships at regional, national and international level
- maintain a financially sound and adaptively resilient organisation
- use, and encourage the use of, innovative and emerging digital technology
- work to the benefit the local economy and the sustainability of local communities.
Its funders are Creative Scotland, D&G Council, The Holywood Trust, The William Grant Foundation, The Heritage Lottery Fund, ASWT, Barfill.
About EventScotland
- EventScotland is working to make Scotland the perfect stage for events. By developing an exciting portfolio of sporting and cultural events EventScotland is helping to raise Scotland’s international profile and boost the economy by attracting more visitors. For further information about EventScotland, its funding programmes and latest event news visit www.EventScotland.org. Follow EventScotland on Twitter @EventScotNews.
- EventScotland is a team within VisitScotland’s Events Directorate, the national tourism organisation which markets Scotland as a tourism destination across the world, gives support to the tourism industry and brings sustainable tourism growth to Scotland. For more information about VisitScotland see www.visitscotland.org or for consumer information on Scotland as a visitor destination see www.visitscotland.com.
About Creative Scotland
Creative Scotland is the public body that supports the arts, screen and creative industries across all parts of Scotland on behalf of everyone who lives, works or visits here. We enable people and organisations to work in and experience the arts, screen and creative industries in Scotland by helping others to develop great ideas and bring them to life. We distribute funding provided by the Scottish Government and the National Lottery. For further information about Creative Scotland please visit www.creativescotland.com. Follow us @creativescots and www.facebook.com/CreativeScotland.
For media information contact Matthew Shelley on 07786 704299 or at [email protected] or call Upland on 01387 213 218.