Scotland’s Most Southerly Artists Throw Open Their Studio Doors For Spring Fling
- 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.”
