- Glenda moved south from Carlisle to live on a remote Scottish peninsula
- Jane loves the remote rural area for its vibrant creative community
- Linda fell in love with the Rhins after visiting Mull of Galloway Lighthouse
Scotland’s most southerly artists will be throwing open their studio doors for Spring Fling 2022 – and sharing their love of life in the remote beauty of the Rhins of Galloway.
One of the three women, abstract painter Glenda Waterworth, was previously in Carlisle so has moved south to her home at Fine View, Drummore, a few miles from the Mull of Galloway Lighthouse.
Close by is wood turner Jane Fraser, who set up home and studio at her hilltop cottage, near Kirkmaiden, seven months ago – attracted by the creative community in that part of the peninsula.
Linda Irving, who works in fibre and silks to create felted and stitched paintings, is not only the southernmost artist in Scotland but runs its most southerly gallery – The Mull of Gallery.
A former adult art psychotherapist from Glossop, she and her husband John, visited the area on holiday a little over six years ago and loved it so much that within weeks they sold up and moved.
Linda said: “We’d wanted to have a holiday near a lighthouse, stuck a pin in a map to decide where we were going and ended up at the Mull of Galloway.
“We loved it so much that we sold up and moved here, and I have achieved my dream of becoming a full-time professional artist living by the sea. And my husband volunteers at the lighthouse now.
“I’m also rather proud to be Scotland’s most southerly artist, and also of having most southerly gallery.”
During Spring Fling, from 2-5 June, visitors can see a range of Linda’s work in the studio her husband built for her at their Smiddy Cottage home.
Jane has deep roots in Dumfries and Galloway, previously having lived in Stranraer, and can sometimes be spotted out and about in the countryside cutting up fallen trees with her chainsaw. After being hauled into the studio she will then wield an adze to strip off the bark.
She said: “Even though I’m a wood turner people sometimes seem to think it must be a man who cuts the wood. It definitely isn’t – I do every stage of the work myself.
“This is a wonderful place to be, I moved down here about seven months ago because I wanted to be part of the artistic community that’s developing in the South Rhins, it’s quite a vibrant hub.”
During Spring Fling visitors will be able to learn more about Jane’s work, see bowls she has turned and wooden jewellery she has made, as well as her paintings and drawings.
Glenda, who lives near Drummore which is the most southerly village in Scotland (roughly level with Workington, Penrith and Hartlepool) was attracted to the area because of the light.
She said: “I’m an abstract painter but my work is very much informed by the land and seascapes around me.
“The thing that drew me here was the quality of light, it’s a narrow peninsula and the sea either side acts as a giant reflector, which is wonderful for an artist.
“And what I’ve discovered since moving her is that there is an incredibly strong sense of community, real old-fashioned community, far stronger than I have encountered anywhere else. People really help each other out.”
During Spring Fling visitors will be able to chat to Glenda about her work and see a selection of her paintings, plus giclee prints and cards – they can also enjoy the lovely sea view.
Chris Bridgman, Upland Project Manager, who is organising this year’s Spring Fling, said: “Something people love about Spring Fling is the chance to meet remarkable people creating beautiful artwork in wonderful places.
“Linda, Glenda and Jane absolutely sum this up – Scotland’s most southerly artists, living and working in the remote rural communities on a narrow peninsula at the farthest edge of the country.
“We look forward to welcoming visitors from all over Scotland and the rest of the UK to visit them, and the other 93 studios all across Dumfries and Galloway that are taking part in Spring Fling 2022, over the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee weekend.”
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Notes for editors
Picture by Colin Hattersley
This year’s Spring Fling programme includes
- Modern Makers: 14 May to 25 June at Gracefield Arts Centre in Dumfries. An exhibition celebrating the Modern Makers programme which allows young people to learn traditional craft techniques.
- Spring Fling at 20: 28 May to 2 July at Gracefield Arts Centre in Dumfries. An exhibition featuring work by more than 40 past and present participants.
- Spring Fling Open Studios Weekend: 2-5 June across Dumfries and Galloway. Close to 100 specially selected artists and makers open their studios.
About Spring Fling
- Brochures can be ordered from the Spring Fling website and a downloadable version is also available. For further details visit www.spring-fling.co.uk.
- The organisers will ensure that all government COVID-19 guidance is followed so visitors and participants can take part in a safe Spring Fling.
- Spring Fling made its name as 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.
- For further details visit www.spring-fling.co.uk or contact [email protected]
- Spring Fling is pleased to once again have support from Dumfries & Galloway Council as one of the region’s Signature Events.
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
- 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 Barfill Trust.
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.