artpistol

Breakouts is our renowned annual showcase of the best talent coming out of the Scottish Art Schools. The grass roots and the future of the Scottish art world making their first moves into the professional space. Now in its 14th year, as exciting as always, as important as ever to support.

Energy levels are maxing for the opening night / Thursday 4th July 6-9pm. RSVP [email protected] or DM if you’d like to get your name on the list. Drinks and a visual feast provided. The show will be open throughout July and August. Dates and times will be published online.

A space for serious decisions on artistic identity 😄 The big black table is perfect for trying out art combinations, cause there’s plenty to make! We’ve got a very large collection of loose art pieces, drawings and prints in the gallery that you could spend some quality time with. The middle level 💪💥

A huge thank you to the amazing for the furniture, it’s perfect.

Eleanor Carlingford’s new show opening in the gallery this Thursday. Set within the main gallery, ‘Figureheads’ is an exploration into the past, uncovering the curious stories carved into wooden figures that decorated the bows of wooden ships and sailing vessels. In her usual enigmatic style, Eleanor not only injects colour and life back into the figures, she pulls us out into our very own journey of discovery, across uncharted and challenging horizons with playful and suggestive titles; Come What May, Glossed Over, Head On, Seeing It Through. 17 paintings available and a collection of drawings.

The show opens with a special preview on Thursday 6th June from 6-8pm. Eleanor will be in attendance and will be delighted to meet and talk about her work. Please RSVP with a DM or email [email protected] if you’d like to come.

Eleanor Carlingford’s new show opening in the gallery this June. Set within the main gallery, ‘Figureheads’ is an exploration into the past, uncovering the curious stories carved into wooden figures that decorated the bows of wooden ships and sailing vessels. In her usual enigmatic style, Eleanor not only injects colour and life back into the figures, she pulls us out into our very own journey of discovery, across uncharted and challenging horizons with playful and suggestive titles; Come What May, Glossed Over, Head On, Seeing It Through. 17 paintings available.

The show opens with a special preview on Thursday 6th June from 6-8pm. Eleanor will be in attendance and will be delighted to meet and talk about her work. Please RSVP with a DM or email [email protected] if you’d like to come.

Delighted to launch Eleanor Carlingford’s new show in the gallery this June. Set within the main gallery, ‘Figureheads’ is an exploration into the past, uncovering the curious stories carved into wooden figures that decorated the bows of wooden ships and sailing vessels. In her usual enigmatic style, Eleanor not only injects colour and life back into the figures, she pulls us out into our very own journey of discovery, across uncharted and challenging horizons with playful and suggestive titles; Come What May, Glossed Over, Head On, Seeing It Through. 17 paintings available.

The show opens with a special preview on Thursday 6th June from 6-8pm. Eleanor will be in attendance and will be delighted to meet and talk about her work. Please RSVP with a DM or email [email protected] if you’d like to come.

The stairwell is its own work of art. The link between distinctly different spaces is a joy, theatre and architecture at play.

MK Thomson / Elliot Killick

MK Thomson
Singular

Elliot Killick
A Stranger (top right)
A Stranger II

Louise Howard.

“Soup” (top) / “The Good Ship” (below)

Oil and mixed media on panel.

Contact the Gallery for additional images.

“I work in oils and strive to highlight the human condition in my works, exploring the subject matter as an object of stillness and beauty without being attractive in the conventional sense. I pay particular attention to the face with the intention of capturing the subtle fragility of my subject. Much of my work is painted in detail whilst also hosting abstract, broader strokes in the same piece. This juxtaposition of fine verses modern art combines my preference for both styles. There is no explicit story behind my works. I wouldn’t want there to be. The subjects I paint aren’t models. They’re just normal people”.

Louise Howard.

“Burglar”

Oil and mixed media on panel.

The painting is set in a bespoke dark brown wood box frame with shadow. Contact the Gallery for additional images.

“I work in oils and strive to highlight the human condition in my works, exploring the subject matter as an object of stillness and beauty without being attractive in the conventional sense. I pay particular attention to the face with the intention of capturing the subtle fragility of my subject. Much of my work is painted in detail whilst also hosting abstract, broader strokes in the same piece. This juxtaposition of fine verses modern art combines my preference for both styles. There is no explicit story behind my works. I wouldn’t want there to be. The subjects I paint aren’t models. They’re just normal people”.

Eve McGlynn

*An ongoing series of shorts where artists explore the role of art in society today.

“Art has always been present in our culture and history. Paintings were created to tell stories and spread teachings and bring people together. What we do today is the same as we did in the past; look to art to understand culture and history and the world around us. To look at a painting is difficult. It requires thought and consideration. Thinking about the artist that made it and the way they made you feel. There is a physicality to viewing paintings. Taking a step back, ignoring your surroundings and breathing in something tangible. Forming a relationship with real colours. We will still travel distances to see great art. We are still moved by great art, conjure stories about great art and let our minds wander around the surfaces of great art. At its core, art brings us together.”

The evolution and life of the portrait wall is going to be fascinating. A genre with its own dedicated galleries around the world deserves its own space in ours. Emotion and passion and honesty. Raw talent.

These walls are said to have magical powers. Just a total treat. Mighty fine art 💪💥

Isaac Aldridge

*An ongoing series of shorts where artists discuss the role of art in society today.

“Artists are a dynamic paradigm. Sensitive to life and substance; their roles shift, reflect and process a curiosity, impulse or desire. It functions by offering a manifestation of nuance that feels honest in attempt and one that resonates with us on a visceral note. These notes are evocative and is why art is so significant, individual and moving.”

There’s going to be a focus on having contrasting spaces across our 3 levels. Busy walls are going to be a regular feature upstairs, just so much energy and bursting with talent as you enter. Sets the tone and in the best of ways is almost overwhelming, being surrounded by so much phenomenal art, a proper intro to get the mind and eye jumping. Now imagine all the walls like this 😯

Jaco Putker

*An ongoing series exploring the role of art in society today with artists.

“Childhood is a time of curiosity, discovery and a search for independence.

Jaco’s prints reflect the surreal nature of childhood, where the line between reality and fantasy is nebulous. He is a storyteller through pictures, offering the viewers the opportunity to temporarily escape daily reality, and wonder about in one’s own memories and associations for a little while.”

What an outstanding night the opening was!!

An incredible statement has been made. The absolutely world class art, the phenomenal show of support, and the way the space casts its magic on the whole experience. The buzz was special and it’s just amazing to be back in action.

So much thanks goes to all that came along and for all the messages of support too. There’s a whole lot of love for what’s happening at 11 James Morrison Street, thank you all.

Thanks to friends for these pics when things were calming, but we don’t want to give it all away just yet, please come and see for yourself.

We’re doing opening hours a little differently from now on and will be publishing those as far ahead as possible, on a fortnightly basis initially. We’ll update Google, socials and the website with these. There will also be hours based on new shows as we move forward too.

This week (wc 29 Apr) we’re open:
Wed - Fri & Sun / 12 - 3

Next week (wc 6 May):
Mon - Tue / 12 - 3
Thu - Sat / 12 - 3

We will also be open by appointment, so please get in touch if these hours don’t suit as we’re in and out all the time.

All the best!

Mighty Fine Art.

John Parkin has added a new collection of paintings to the gallery. Featuring his tumbling astronauts and vibrant cosmic colours. Plus he’s added an extra dimension to a few by cleverly setting them within a relief frame.

Please contact the gallery for full details or check out his collection online - https://www.artpistol.co.uk/artists/john-parkin

Mighty Fine Art.

Lucia Pearla is a multi award winning young artist who burst onto the scene in 2020 after her sell out degree show at DJCAD.

“My paintings are a form of escapism which are formed using impulsive actions. The layering of paint is built upon pushing and pulling the applied medium back and forth by sanding multiple surfaces created. This technique creates dimension to my work where various suggestive surfaces can be pulled out and fragmented moments can be pieced together by the viewer allowing them to form their own imaginative narrative”.

She has taken part in numerous shows and her work is held in private and public collections across the UK.

Featured work is titled ‘Frosted Forest’ - Acrylic on board | 100 x 80 cm | https://www.artpistol.co.uk/art/frosted-forest

Mighty Fine Art.

We’ve had a busy year with Coll Hamilton, collaborating on a number of private and commercial commissions. These projects offer opportunities to explore different themes and narratives.

So here’s a look at 2 of Coll’s signature portraits from winter 2022. Both paintings are deeply worked oils, rich with colour and texture.

Featured paintings are ‘Now Unsealed’ - Oil on canvas | 61 x 92 cm | https://www.artpistol.co.uk/art/now-unsealed

And ‘This Is Enough’ - Oil on canvas | 61 x 75 cm | https://www.artpistol.co.uk/art/this-is-enough

Use the links or please contact the gallery for full details.

Mighty Fine Art.

Eleanor Carlingford has a new show penned in for 2024. She visited Australia earlier in the year, and as soon as she returned to her studio, she began work on a new body of paintings that take inspiration and explore ships mastheads. We can’t wait to open this one.

Meanwhile, we’re looking at 2 of her older works.

The first one is titled ‘New Lodgement’ - Framed oil on canvas | 55 x 75 cm | https://www.artpistol.co.uk/art/new-lodgement

The second is titled ‘The 2-Springed Fibula’ - Framed oil on canvas | 131 x 156 cm | https://www.artpistol.co.uk/art/2-springed-fibula

Mighty Fine Art.

Shanshan Jiang is another artist who has been incredibly busy over the past couple of years. Splitting her time between studios in Glasgow and London, expanding her practice to include painting on ceramic surfaces and producing sculptural work.

Featured work is one of only a few remaining paintings left from a series we first brought into the gallery in 2018, titled ‘Water 3’ | Ink and watercolour on canvas.

Please contact the gallery for full details.

Mighty Fine Art.

2 beautifully painted contemporary portraits from Bristol based artist Toni Cogdell - 'The View' and 'The Journey' | Oil on board | 2019.

"The subjects of my paintings are all people in my life, although the paintings aren’t meant to ‘be’ them, they just stand as a starting point for a human representation, the architecture of human emotion".

Toni has been extremely busy over the last couple of years. She's held shows across the UK from London to Cornwall and overseas as far as Bangkok. She has honed her process and technique combining acrylic, spray paint, collage and oil paint to give voice to her expression; a personal style seeking to connect with the world around her.

Please contact the gallery for full details or you can find all of Toni’s work online now: https://www.artpistol.co.uk/artists/toni-cogdell

Mighty Fine Art

As we race towards the end of the year, we've been taking some time to look at all the wonderful works patiently waiting on the new gallery space opening. And what an inspired volume of work we have enjoyed reconnecting with. From Coll Hamilton, Toni Cogdell, Eleanor Carlingford, Ross Miller, Stephen Whatcott (pictured), John Parkin, Jacob Littlejohn, Rose Raine and many more....

Keep an eye on our socials as we share this collection of paintings and drawings over the coming week. Please contact the gallery for details or you can find all pieces online.

Mighty Fine Art.

Brand new for November we’re delighted to introduce Alice Sherlock to the gallery. A multi-disciplinary artist, Alice works with paint, print and sculpture. She aims to turn aural stories into a visual language;

“I start with a recorded familial conversation, and once the stories have been filtered through me they become more ambiguous and exaggerated – as stories often do when being retold. This then extends the parameters of the story to include more surreal and uncanny elements, playing with perspective to create an imagined world”.

Alice’s work is loaded with imagery and text - her surreal worlds created from an honest narrative.

We look forward to sharing the full curated collection of works online. Please contact the gallery for details.

Mighty Fine Art.

ECA grad Danele Evans rounds out our impressive selection of breakout and underknown talent from across the schools this year. With a body of work that explores the relationship between people and the contemporary built environment.

Her works make up an extended series which place isolated parts of the figure within urban environments, populating them with abstracted and fragmented representations of disembodied clothing. Danele aims to reflect a place and position in the world that is undefined, complex and in constant flux.

Featured work is titled 'The Three Pillars' - Oil on Canvas | 150 x 100 cm | £1750 | https://www.artpistol.co.uk/art/the-three-pillars

Mighty Fine Art.

And the second of 2 brand new paintings from DJCAD grad MK Thomson.

MK was awarded the Graham Lang Prize for excellence in drawing and painting. Her work is held in private collections in Berlin and the UK and has featured in publications such as Rising Stars: Visual Arts Research Conference, published in 2023 by Boom Publications and Transitions, published in 2021 by Epoch Press.

Featured work is titled ‘Groundwork 2’ - Oil on Board | 93 x 78 cm | £700 | https://www.artpistol.co.uk/artists/mk-thomson

Mighty Fine Art.

Remember you can find all artists featuring in our first wave of this year’s ‘Best of Scottish Art Schools Grad Show’ online: https://www.artpistol.co.uk/best-of-scottish-art-schools-grad-show-23

We’ve got 7 extremely talented underknown rising stars of the future. Working in oils, acrylics, ceramics, chalk pastel, monoprints, inks and exploring a multitude of themes.

Kate Scheibli (GSA) has been making investigations into Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi’s state of ‘flow’ and the way in which loss of time and self-conscious rumination is achieved in her process of painting; a conscious comparison to what many gamers experienced while playing video games.

Her work also discusses the square and what it represents in art history as well as what it means in contemporary society – from screens and computers in the modern day, to the De Stijl manifesto about balance within art and design. The square provides an architecture for a painting, something she likes to work with compositionally and ideologically.

Featured work is titled ‘End Of The Road’ - Acrylic on Canvas | 130 x 130 cm | £1750 | https://www.artpistol.co.uk/art/end-of-the-road

Mighty Fine Art.

Firmly nestled within Cat Tams practice is her appreciation for figurative and life drawing. She effortlessly captures the human form with her use of mark making and application of colour, light and shade.

Find her full collection of drawings via the link: https://www.artpistol.co.uk/artists/cat-tams

Cat is a standout GSA grad featuring in this year's 'Best of Scottish Art Schools Grad Show'

Mighty Fine Art.

We have a number of Cat Tams chalk pastel drawings featuring in this year’s ‘Best of Scottish Art Schools Grad Show’ - the 12th edition of this annual highlight. A standout grad from GSA and recipient of the Armour Prize, which is awarded for work of distinction by a young artist.

Featured work is titled ‘Daily Commute’ - Chalk Pastel on Paper | 42 x 31 cm | £235 | https://www.artpistol.co.uk/art/daily-commute

Mighty Fine Art.

Derek C Spence is our next featured artist in this year’s ’Best of Scottish Art Schools Grad Show’ - a Fine Art grad from DJCAD 2023.

His work explores conflict and associated feelings of anxiety, through use of contrasting colour, differentiated mark-making, unconventional materials and difference in scale. Derek wants his viewers to assess and find their own stories in his painting.

All his work is available to view in the gallery and online. Check the link for full details: https://www.artpistol.co.uk/artists/derek-c-spence

Mighty Fine Art.