St.Andrews Partnership Jewellery Range By Georgia Rose

We are now supporting Brighter St.Andrews by launching a unique range of jewellery that will help raise funds for the pioneering initiative. We have teamed up with Perthshire jeweller Georgia Rose to create a stunning range of 'pilgrim badges' inspired by the rich history of St.Andrews.

Ten percent of all proceeds from this jewellery range go to Brighter St.Andrews, the first initiative of its kind in our town. The project involves businesses and their customers contributing to enhance the vibrancy and appearance of St.Andrews, creating an even better environment for the local people and heightening the visitor experience.

Throughout the Middle Ages, thousands of people would travel to St.Andrews to venerate the relics of St.Andrew. These mementos were usually sewn onto pilgrims' clothes. The new jewellery, is an elegant souvenir for the modern day pilgrims to the Home of Golf, international visitors retracing the footsteps of their ancestors or students attending Scotland's most ancient university.

The collection includes a lapis lazuli necklace, which evokes the unique rock formations of the fife coast; howlite earrings, which pay tribute to the home of golf; and a lapis lazuli and howlite bracelet, representing the colours of the St.Andrews flag.

Eric Brown, Chairman of the St Andrews Partnership said ''We are delighted at the support we have received from local businesses such as Artery Gallery, who are as determined as we are to help make St Andrews even more attractive for residents and visitors alike.''

Georgia Rose said ''Brighter St Andrews is an excellent cause, which we are all very passionate about. Anything that makes St Andrews better is well worth supporting and we look forward to working closely with the St Andrews Partnership on this pioneering venture.''

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Aldona Juska Thistle Art and Jewellery

Specialising in botanical art and using recycled materials, Yorkshire-born Aldona Juska somehow manages to imbue normally industrial materials such as copper and steel with a sense that they have organically grown into the work that she produces.

Now resident in Edinburgh, Aldona spent many years abroad in the USA and Australia working as a librarian. Ever keen to use to her creative side in her spare time, she jumped at an opportunity to work with talented Mexican blacksmiths in Los Angeles, California and it was here that she discovered her affinity with metal work. This led Aldona to take a creative metal art course upon her return to the UK and begin working out of her own welding studio in 2002.

Since producing her first studio work nearly ten years ago, Aldona has risen both in popularity and confidence, receiving critical acclaim from The Scotsman newspaper, and others, along the way. Initially creating delicate and eye-catching jewellery and sculpture, Aldona has now developed a body of work that includes elegant and unusual candelabras and centrepieces perfect for display in any home.

Artery Gallery is proud to show a range of Aldona’s pieces, including examples of her thistle-inspired work. With these, Aldona has captured the form of this quintessentially Scottish plant in items as diverse as kilt pins, cufflinks and candleholders. An added Scottish twist is that some of her ‘thistle-making’ materials have been reclaimed from North Sea oil platforms – making every one a handcrafted blend of contemporary and traditional Scotland.

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Colin Carruthers

Northern Irish artist Colin Carruthers’ gorgeous seascapes evoke specific memories in non-specific ways. His non-representational, but rather idyllic oil paintings of coastal scenes depict the landscape free from distractions or tell-tale landmarks, leaving the image natural and carefree, as in our memories.

Colin earned a BA Honours in Fine Art from the Birmingham Institute of Art. Although based on actual locations, he removes telling landmarks, people and other signs that detract from the emotional memories attached to a place that the viewer may remember from their own travels. In essence, they are physical representations of a memory or idyllic place. Colin aims to create the feeling or sensation of a particular place without overtly stating where the place is, aside from in the title of the painting.

Many of his seascapes are based on the Scottish coast, particularly the Fife coast. Colin regularly travels to Scotland and finds the drama of the Scottish coast to be a source of influence and inspiration for his work. He views his work as a challenge, searching for more than just pure aesthetics. ‘There’s a challenge involved in my art work,’ he says. ‘With every canvas I attempt, I am searching for something. Beyond simply looking at my paintings and gaining an aesthetic pleasure, I do think it’s important that they offer up space for thought. Colin’s paintings, often created in a variety of subtle colours, blues, purples, greens, depict the landscapes at their best, with bright sunset light, or strong clouds, white crests of waves or wildflowers overlooking sandy beach.

While Colin’s paintings are not what a camera might capture of the same location, they evoke more memory and emotion than a snapshot, allowing for the changing nature of the landscape. Many of his paintings, including ‘Cloudburst’ and ‘Cowslips, Buttercups’ are painted as diptychs or triptychs, a single scene covering multiple canvases. Each separate section of a diptych or triptych is a complete composition of its own, depicting a beautiful section of land, made all the more dramatic by its inclusion in a larger composition.

Colin’s style is reflective of the fact that land changes constantly. ‘What adds to the experience of my paintings is the sense of ongoing changes in perception… The coast keeps ‘re-making itself’. I want my canvases to reflect that,’ Colin said.

We have a number of Colin’s dramatic pieces here in Artery in a variety of sizes and styles. Pop into the gallery and see how his work brings back holiday memories for you or to find a souvenir of your travels to Scotland.

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Scott Carruthers Exhibition

Scott Carruthers’ Solo Exhibition

We are pleased to be hosting the first solo exhibition of acrylic painter Scott Carruthers at Artery Gallery, beginning on 18^th May! His exhibition will include a new body of work entitled ‘Paintings of Plastic Men’, the name inspired by Lowry’s ‘Paintings of Matchstick Men’.

Scott is a self-taught artist whose work became so popular that in 2009 he devoted himself to painting full-time. In this short time it is clear that his work has found its niche and resonated with people as his collections regularly sell out.

His signature style features child characters on a clean, white background, allowing the subjects to be the sole focus of the paintings. He says, ‘Painting the characters in a naïve, cartoon-like style helps represent the childhood aspect of the work, taking the seriousness out of the piece and at the same time accentuating the innocence of children. Scott says he is not sure how this particular style came about, but he knew that he wanted them to be simple, yet have something significant happening in them. ‘Keeping the landscape plain and white means there is no outside interference with the essence of the narrative. The focus is then solely on the characters themselves, all the same (as though they could easily just be one person), yet all painted as individuals.’

He calls his work ‘Nostalgic Observations’ as all of the subjects depict childhood and its simplicity. Scott draws inspiration from his own childhood memories and from his children, noting the similarities and differences between the generations.

His work is also largely influenced by the work of Andy Warhol and Jackson Pollock, even including tributes to their paintings in some of his work. He pays homage to Warhol in the sense of memories being the foundation for his work and also in depicting modern, iconic subjects such as LEGO people and plastic army men. Scott has created an entire series called ‘Artist Collection’ that pays tribute to some of his inspirations , incorporating aspects of their signature techniques and styles into his work.

Scott’s upcoming exhibition will be comprised of some of his classic work as well as his new ‘Paintings of Plastic Men’ series.

People have said that his figures have a similar look to LEGO people, so in this series, some of his ‘plastic men’ include the iconic children’s LEGO figures as well as other toy figures including plastic soldiers and table football players rather than human figures. His solo exhibition will begin on Wednesday18^th May and the viewer will also have a chance to meet Scott and ask him about his work on Saturday 21^st May from 1pm onwards. Pop into Artery Gallery at 43 South Street, St Andrews to meet Scott, see his exhibition and even bring home your own nostalgic bit of childhood. We look forward to seeing you!


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Mike Hunter- Modern Twist on Traditional Glassblowing Techniques

What began as a childhood fascination for glass artist Mike Hunter became his self-taught profession. His work is proof of his dedication to the traditional techniques of the Italian masters and he is known for creating historically technical, gorgeous modern glasswork that has not been used commercially since the Victorian era. He describes his work as ‘…individual and contemporary blown vessels of elaborate adornment.’

Mike began his training as an apprentice at Wedgwood Glass of Kings Lynn, Norfolk from the age of seventeen. Even there the masters couldn’t answer his questions about the details of how some glasswork was made, and since then it became his mission to learn glassblowing techniques that would otherwise be lost through disuse. Mike views his experience in trial and error learning to have been invaluable to his current work. He said that ‘people’s conception of an artist usually revolve around some form of training’ but for him training is akin to restriction, and being self-taught he is able to set his own restrictions and limitations by what he can achieve in his work.

He now has his own studio, Twists Glass Studio, in Selkirk, which he opened in 1998. His favoured techniques involve cane-working, (working with rods of coloured glass) and he bases his pieces on the traditional designs of glassblowers from 16th and 17th century Italy and 18th century England. Through seven years of experimentation and dedication he has brought back the near lost technique of embedding coloured glass canes into the stems of glasses and tableware, such as these pieces in Artery Gallery.

He is also known for his use of zanfirico glassblowing, for which he has received numerous awards, including twice being named a finalist for the Glass Technology Award, among others, Zanfirico is an Italian decorative glassblowing technique involving intricate patterns of coloured glass canes arranged and twisted to comprise a pattern within a single glass cane. These new patterned canes are then used to create a glass work, such as the Zanfirico Vase displayed at Artery Gallery.

We have several pieces by Mike Hunter, as well as other glass artists, at Artery Gallery. Mike’s vases are consistently popular, especially his Zanfirico vase, and his impeccable technique makes the colour appear to be floating, supported by clear glass. It is the zanfirico technique that gives the smooth glass vase a textured, woven appearance. Another of Mike’s eye-catching vases is his Murrine Vase, which is made of brightly coloured cross sections of canes, forming unique patterns on a smooth surface.

Glass art has the advantage of being both practical and beautiful by nature. At Artery we also have a selection of his glassware and other table art, including a variety of wine glasses, pitchers and decanters, all painstakingly handmade of the finest quality. His wine glasses are made with intertwined coloured rods forming the interior of the stems. Additionally we have a collection of his Milli pieces, which is a term used to describe glass decorated with slices of coloured canes embedded in clear molten glass, which produces a distinctive decorative pattern of glassware that often resembles flowers. The Milli pieces displayed in Artery include tumblers, tall glasses as well as a pitcher, bright and summery, perfect for an outdoor party.

Knowing the techniques and the precision behind Mike’s glass work, one can better appreciate the handmade designs and patterns in each of his pieces. Pop in to Artery and have a look at Mike’s work. You may possibly find your own piece of traditional, modern glasswork.

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Garry Jones Ceramics

Everybody needs a good laugh and right now Artery Gallery has exactly the pieces to bring a smile to your face. We are pleased to be exhibiting work by ceramicist Garry Jones, whose farm animal creations have character and personality all their own.

Garry loves animals, and that is apparent in his work. He says that they are a ‘continuous source of amusement, happiness, sadness, and of course inspiration.’ All of his ceramic animals are created as 3-D cartoons, somewhat reminiscent of Wallace and Gromit, and their expressions are the essence of the sculpture. Garry does that intentionally, as he aims to give animals human characteristics. He says that his sculptures are ‘a reaction to observations of animal behaviour; I set out to make people laugh.’ He also uses wordplay of common phrases such as ‘Ewe and Me’ and ‘Ewe-fo’ and emulates old silent films where the emphasis was on the expression alone.

The work has a raku glaze, which Garry prefers as the process creates a more unpredictable finish, making each piece unique. The unpredictable style complements the expressions on his animals’ faces, maintaining continuity between the funny and unexpected ideas and the fluid, unpredictable design.

All of his work is filled with humour, whether through the surprised expressions on the animals faces, the comical scenes in which they are depicted, such as ‘Over The Moon’ or through his parodies of the famous sculptures ‘The Thinker’ or ‘The Kiss’ by Rodin, whose poses Garry mimics with hares as his subject rather than people.

While Garry creates a variety of animal sculptures, including chickens, sheep, dogs, hares, cows and more, the current pieces in Artery are part of his sheep series of work, accompanied by ‘Beefcake’ the quirky bull. His sheep come in a variety of sizes and scenes, and they would make a perfect gift for children or adults. With prices starting from just £30 for these fun wee sheep you really can’t go wrong. They have been bringing a smile and a laugh to passers-by, and would be sure to warm your home and your heart.

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New Work by Featured Jewellers

New Work by Featured Jewellers

Artery Gallery is known for representing a wide range of artistic styles in all media and that embodies the gallery’s philosophy that art is for everyone, and with such a wide range of styles and prices, everyone can find the ideal piece of art. While this is clear with our paintings, it also holds true for our jewellery, with prices typically ranging from £26-£200 and styles for everyday wear as well as high end pieces for those special occasions.

All of our jewellers have their particular styles and strengths. Some produce vibrant beaded work, others crystal wedding jewellery, handcrafted metalwork pieces or intricately woven silver. All of the jewellery is made by hand, so just as with the paintings displayed in the gallery, the jewellery is as unique and each piece is an individual work of wearable art. This month we would like to feature two of our prominent jewellers, Sarah Anderson and Angela Learoyd. Both are silversmiths and create gorgeous handmade pieces with their own creative signature styles.

Sarah Anderson is a local jeweller from Fife who received her B.A. Honours from Glasgow School of Art in Jewellery and Silversmithing. She works with sterling silver hallmarked by the Edinburgh Assay Office. The colours and textures of the Scottish Highlands influence her silversmithing and semi-precious stone pieces. The majority of her pieces are made of numerous handmade metal jump rings (necklaces have around 350 rings each!) which require extensive amounts of work.

Gorgeous, yet subtle, Sarah’s work can be worn every day or add some sparkle to your ensemble for a special occasion. Her jewellery is often customisable as they can be made to measure and can be personalised with a detachable stone or charm, an example of which can be seen here.

Angela Learoyd is a member of the Association of British Jewellers and the Association of Contemporary Jewellers and creates mainly pieces that incorporate gemstones with a matt finish and interesting textures. Her work is sure to catch attention! She especially enjoys forming and creating her own beads rather than sourcing them, giving her work a personal touch from beginning to end. ‘Often my inspiration for shapes and textures comes directly from the stone,’ she said. Deriving inspiration directly from the sources allows for an organic and original flow of work, leading to different styles simply by the nature of the material.

Artery Gallery is excited and honoured to be the first gallery to exhibit new lines of work from both Sarah and Angela. Sarah is currently creating a Limited Edition range of chain mail that will be a gallery exclusive, available from April.

Angela is working on a series of statement pieces that are based around her large and unusual gemstones together with textured silver hollow hand-formed beads. Artery will be the first to exhibit these new pieces as well. Whether you are looking for intricate silver jewellery or gorgeous statement pieces, be sure to pop into Artery Gallery at 43 South Street, St Andrews and be the first to see these exquisite new ranges of work!

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Graham McKean Exhibition Hits The East Coast

We are thrilled to be currently exhibiting new work by world-renowned Scottish painter Graham McKean. Graham has shown his work in Artery on a number of occasions and his current work is a prelude to the exhibition of his that we will be hosting in December.

A highly popular and collectible artist, some of Graham’s notable credits include ‘Thriller’, Graham’s painting depicting the peak of Michael Jackson’s career, completed shortly after the star’s death. Graham was also commissioned by the Celtic Football Club to create a painting celebrating the 40^th anniversary of the Lisbon Lions and by the Scottish Opera to create a series of works for the Theatre Royal in Glasgow. He was also commissioned to create a painting and statement for inclusion on bottles of Glenfiddich single malt whiskey.

With such notable achievements to his name, we are honoured to once again be displaying his work in Artery. Graham’s new pieces consist of a cohesive series of figures on a smaller scale, mainly faces created in pastel on black paper, which differs from his primary medium, which is oil.

In ‘A Hidden Beauty’, just a sliver of the woman’s face highlighted from the natural shadow of the black paper is enough to provoke interest in the mysterious woman with her hat drawn low over her face. In another group of images depicting the same aged and weather-worn figure are ‘An Old Sea Dog’, ‘Blowing in the Wind’ and ‘St Andrew’ the bright white of the old man’s beard drastically contrasts the dark background, drawing attention to his weathered features. These three painting would make a nice statement in your home! ‘A Quite Night In’ has a different, more intimate feel to which everyone can relate.

Graham’s new pieces still have his signature flair and bright colour, which makes his work instantly identifiable. They also show ordinary people or scenes that have an uplifting feel. Graham said that “the human condition and the daily struggle of everyday life has always been an inspiration in my work” and that he always tries to ‘produce art that “makes me feel better about the world”.

A testimonial by artist Peter Howsen, said, “My admiration for [Graham’s} art is on so many levels, but first and foremost is the simplicity and beauty of his imagination. Graham has managed to do a rare thing with his art. He has created a style which is uniquely his and is instantly recognisable”.

Come in to Artery Gallery at 43 South Street and see these paintings for yourself. You may even want to take one home and add the incredible work of Graham McKean to your personal art collection!

www.arteryuk.com

Beginner's Guide to Buying Art

Happy February everyone! With 2011 off to a good start, maybe it's time to act on (or keep up!) your annual resolutions. Perhaps this year one of your goals is to begin cultivating an art collection but you aren't sure where to start, or are concerned about the financial ramifications of becoming an art collector?


1. Buy for Sentiment- Pop into your local art gallery and have a browse. Look for artists who are from an area you know, or have created work based around a familiar area. Works that have a story or a connection will mean a lot more to you. Perhaps the artwork reminds you of your childhood or a special holiday. If that is the case and you are looking for work that reminds you of your visit to Scotland or your home in Fife, artists like Aldona Juska or Colin Carruthers may suit you. Aldona creates beautiful thistle pieces made of wire from North Sea oil rigs, such as this Short Thistle Mantle Stem. With her work, you take home a creation that depicts a symbol of Scotland as well as a literal piece of Scotland. Colin's gorgeous oil paintings, such as his Shoreline Daisies are often in subtle pinks, blues and purples, and depict images of Scotland's east coast, in colours and sizes that would make a nice statement in your home. Ask about the artists shown in your local gallery and you can learn a lot about their life and work, making the piece more meaningful to you, and making the piece a conversation starter at home.

2. Look for what you like- This is generally the first thing people tell you when you want to begin an art collection, and oftentimes easier said than done. Some people think that art is an impulse buy and know the second they see a piece that it is exactly what they want. Others have a general idea of styles they like, and that is enough to get started! If you're a fan of the Surrealist style, but can't afford a Dali, check out work by Australian artist Andrew Baines, whose work, such as this Bowler Hat painting, is shown in Artery. If you're a fan of American painter Georgia O'Keefe, but don't want to settle for just a print of her flowers, consider original floral oil paintings, such as Calla Lily, by Jo Beer. Again, ask at your local gallery for similar style substitutes, so that you can find a style you love at a price you can afford.


3. Buy Original- This may seem pricey, but it doesn't always have to be. Buying original is always better than buying a reproduction. Originals do tend to be more expensive than prints, but they hold more artistic and monetary value. However, if you have your heart set on a particular print, always be sure to purchase a copy signed by the artist, for both value and authenticity. An unsigned print is of little value, but original artworks are more likely to be treasured and perhaps even become a future heirloom!

Here at The Artery Gallery we are proud to feature only original pieces by a wide variety of artists with a range of styles. There truly is something for everyone in here! Pop in to visit us and we'll be happy to tell you about our artists and help you find new artwork that you will love!




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St Valentine's Day Goodies

We just wanted to remind you that it's only a couple of weeks until St Valentine's Day.

We have loads of gorgeous goodies for your loved ones in store just now, so come in to get inspired (or drop hints!!).

For glamourous girlies out there we have some stunning silver jewellery such as this silver & red acrylic bracelet by Jo Timoney, called 'That's Amore' - you couldn't get something more appropriate!

We also have cute clocks in heart designs to celebrate your love (aawww!) - a couple of different designs by Tim Fowler - we have heart shaped clocks in red, purple & silver, and at £37 each, they won't break the bank!

Whatever you are looking for, be sure to come into Artery to find your heart's desire.
See you at 43 South Street, St Andrews!

New Year - another successful year ahead for Artery!

First of all, let me take the opportunity to say happy New Year to all of you! We hope you all had a fab festive season, and a great January.

Christmas was an exceptionally busy time of year for us - even the snow and freezing temperatures didn't put shoppers off - either you're all brave, or you're all mad!

This year we have lots of beautiful artworks in the gallery for you, and lots of new, exciting pieces coming in over the coming months. Keep an eye on here, on our website, and also on our Facebook page for updates and interesting news.
For example, Artery regulars, Whittle Design, have created a new collection for us, including vibrant reds in their metal work, which might be perfect for your Valentine!

Come into Artery Gallery on 43 South Street, St Andrews for more inspiration for St Valentine's day, or otherwise.....look forward to seeing you!

New Arrivals, New Season

Jo Beer, Anemone, £350

So as one season falls behind us, we are gearing up for a new one! We have just had time to catch our breath and catch up on all those jobs we set aside during the summer, and now we are preparing for our busy Christmas season. You Christmas shoppers have been fast off the mark this year, with many gifts already bought online and in store.

We have lots of new work in now to see us through this busy spell - with some new work from 'old' artists, and work from new artists too!

We would like to welome Jo Beer, Sue Parry and Jeff (JZ) Imrie to the gallery - we are delighted to have your gorgeous new work here!

Jo Beer paints beautiful, large-scale modern botanicals, in rich oils. Her close-ups of flowers give us a fresh take on old fashioned chintz - like a vamped up version of Willaim Morris - take a look and see what you think (top).

Sue Parry has deliverd us a most beautiful collection of glass work - little tealight holders, glass hearts, and stunning glass sculptures and bowls. Sue uses the most unusual techniques - and you can read all about her inspiration on her page on our website by clicking on the photo to the left.

Sue Parry, Three Seasons, £270

Jeff Imrie (with the comical nickname of JZ!) has made an unusual bottle holder for us - creative and functional! It really differs from the usual home-store style wine rack, and has been a bit of a talking point in the gallery! He has also created a stunning 'Tree of Life' sculpture for us as well - something that I think needs to be seen in the flesh to appreciate it's 'wow' factor.

There are so many fabulous new things in the gallery - it would take an age to tell you about all of them - so why not come along to visit us on South Street, St Andrews, or stop by our online store.
www.arteryuk.com

Graham McKean Exhibition!

Graham McKean, 'Bunkered Again!'

First of all, I must apologise for a long absence from our blog! It has been an exceptionally busy summer, and I may have neglected some of our readers - so a big sorry!!

Secondly - a quick round-up of summer in St Andrews......CRAZY! It has been such a busy season, with a fantastic amount of tourists from all over the world, lots of golfers, our ever-present local support, day trippers, and many of our St Andrews Uni' students who have stayed for the summer. With such a varied collection of shoppers, it has made our summer really interesting and exciting. It's always great to know where our support comes from, and to meet some of our 'online' customers has been great - we have had a few customers who have come from far-flung corners of the world and said to us that they had viewed the gallery online. It's great for us to meet you - and so strange to think that you have been looking at our gallery from your home in Texas, or in Nice, or St Petersburg, and now you have actually been in here! The world wide web has really made the world a bit smaller.

We have some exciting news for you as well - this week, from Saturday 25th September - we are hosting an exhibition of Graham McKean's work.
Graham has previously exhibited with us, back in 2007, and since then he has gained world-wide acclaim for his paintings. His commissions include the very famous painting of Michael Jackson, created last year, which generated global media interest, and his well known portrait for Celtic FC. Hopefully with our six-week exhibition of his work, we can bring you some of this excitement!
The exhibition is running from 25th Sepember until 6th November - we hope you can come along and have a look, and if you can't make it, images of his full collection with us will be availailable on our website from Saturday.
Also remember you can follow all of our news, gossip, and great photos from within the gallery on Facebook.

www.arteryuk.com

Jewellery Making Demonstration

St Andrews is buzzing with the excitement of holidays, graduation the the Open Golf tournament just now. It's a great atmosphere in town with such a cosmopolitan mix of people.

Jewellery designer and maker Sarah Anderson will be paying St Andrews a visit during the Open Golf. On Thursday 15th July, Sarah will be here at Artery Gallery doing a jewellery making demonstration from 11.30am, for those that want a break from the golf!

Sarah is mostly known for her chain-mail jewellery, and her detachable charms are famous. Her designs include intricately linked bracelets, and her charms are made from sterling silver, gemstones and pearls. Each charm can be clipped onto any piece of jewellery such as one of Sarah's necklaces or bracelets, a chain you already have, or even a watch - I wear one of her charms on a ribbon around my neck!

Sarah will be offering customers the opportunity to design their own completely unique charm, and will make it to order for you - which is great of you are buying a gift and can tell the recipient that you designed it yourself!

Come along to the gallery to get a chance to see a Scottish artist in action and to get a little creative yourself!
43 South Street, St Andrews, 01334 478221

New Networks and Audiences for Artery

We have a website, a blog, a gallery (!) and now we finally have a Facebook page! I have always been somewhat afraid of social networking sites - but after succumbing to temptation and joining up myself a few weeks ago, I realised how suitable Facebook would be for a quick and instant 'Artery' hit. It's also great for us to get that sort of instant feedback from people who view the page and know the gallery.
Click on our Facebbok badge to take you to our page and become a follower, to receive real-time updates on all our exciting new stock, artists' gossip, and interesting articles.
See you on there!

www.arteryuk.com

A Little Bit of Sunshine!

'Sunflowers', £2500

Summer is finally here! After such a long winter it seems like Scotland has finally warmed up, and we have all been basking in the sunshine in St Andrews.
One of our Artery regulars, Jackie Gardiner, has delivered a little bit of sunshine straight into the gallery with her beautiful oil painting 'Sunflowers'. Jackie explained that when she first started painting this piece, it was to bring a little sun into life, as it was so cold and miserable at the time. We certainly find in the gallery that a bright and sunny painting such as this can lift your mood during the darker days of winter, and seeing as it has arrived at the beginning of summer, it definitely represents how we all feel just now.

Jackie's garden - a work of art in itself!

Jackie has a beautiful garden at home - which looks like a work of art itself - where she grows sunflowers herself during summer. This 'Sunflowers' painting was taken from a photo of some of the sunflowers from her garden.

With a large oil painting such as 'Sunflowers' Jackie can take up to six weeks to complete it, painting it in stages, allowing the rich oils to dry in-between each painting session, so it is a long process to produce a painting like this.

'Morning Light, St Andrews', £480

We also have a stunning painting of St Andrews by Jackie - 'Morning Light, St Andrews' - a view of the town from the West Sands. This is such a familiar and famous view - St Andrews is instantly recognisable, and also one of Jackie's favourite scenes to paint.

Come into the gallery for a closer look!

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Boats for Lilliputians

Mary-Ann boat, £48

Karen Mead is new to Artery Gallery, and has brought us an amazing collection of tiny, handmade boat sculptures (which reminded me of the Lilliputians in Gulliver's travels!).

Karens work arrived a couple of weeks ago and has proved a quick success, with many people commissioning Karen to make them boats of their own name and registration plate! Each of Karen's miniature sculptures are named and have their own unique boat registration number, and each little detail is unique - everything from crates, to creels, seagulls to rubber rings - all part of the intricate decoration Karen applies to each piece.
Her creations are made from reclaimed materials, driftwood, balsawood and tin, adding to the unique identity of each little boat.

Karen lived on the South coast of England before moving up to Dingwall in Scotland, where she now draws inspiration from the Firth of Cromarty and Firth of Moray.

You can find Karen's work on our website by clicking here or you can take a look in our gallery on South Street, St Andrews.

www.arteryuk.com

Tom Payne's 'Grunts'!

'Windy Grunt V' £80

We have recently received a new collection of Tom Payne's 'Grunts' - which are a lot more pleasant than they sound!!

Tom, a graduate from Kent Institute of Art & Design, works in clay to produce his quirky and fun figures. Each 'grunt' has a character, which Tom clearly enjoys creating. He uses tools as little as possible, using his hands to create each piece - giving them a rough and solid finish, adding further to the personality of figure.

Tom's work is instantly recognisable and he has created some large-scale pieces - predominantly animals - for a series of different projects, all still retaining his unique look. His portfolio includes a full size baby elephant for Bolton Council, a set of dinosaur jaws for the natural history museum and a polar bear for an MTV advert.....anymore and he could open a zoo!

Tom's full collection can be seen in Artery on South Street, St Andrews, or on our website www.arteryuk.com

Martin Devine's New Creation in Oils

'Sky Streaks, St Andrews' £800

Watercolour artist, Martin Devine, has taken a step away from his usual medium and created a bold image of St Andrews in his recognisable style.

Martin regularly produces paintings in watercolours, with the landscape and urban detail picked out in black Indian ink, St Andrews being one of his favourite subjects. The watercolours are really vibrant and vivid (which is something we don't always associate with watercolours), and he has applied this same approach to his oil painting.

Close up of 'Sky Streaks'

Martin's new work in oils is something which has been 'in the making' for about a year now while he has been taking this time to develop and perfect his technique. In the close-up image of the urban area of this painting, you can see how Martin has maintained his simple, bold shapes, picking each building out in a black outline, and in the close-up image of the sky below, you can see how the new medium of oil gives him a chance to create sweeping colours in the sky using wet-on-wet technique.

This oil painting has arrived along with a new collection of his usual watercolour style, featuring small landscapes, images of St Andrews and his usual bright palette.

Visit Artery on South Street, St Andrews to view his full collection, or see them on our website.

www.arteryuk.com

Colourful New Jewellery

Diane Williams, mixed agates necklace £65

We have lots of new jewellery in the gallery just now bringing in a surge of much needed colour for Easter time.
There are collections from new artists, such as Laura Bradshaw-Heap in pretty colours such as purples and pinks, new collections from established artists such as Elizabeth Scott and Diane Williams and lots of new work from our regular jewellery designer Angela Learoyd.

Laura Bradshaw-Heap's work has just arrived with us this week. Her work comes in three collections - 'Stoneware' which are little silver heart designs (named after Lauras inspiration of rough, battered and tumbled stone textures), 'Encased' which are resin earrings and pendants, which have glitter, fabric and gems captured inside the resin, then framed in silver, and her 'Flutter By' range. Laura's 'Flutter By' jewellery is an unusual and eclectic mix of silver, buttons, plastics, glass and beads - creating a unique style - very 'boho-chic'! Her prices range from £15 - £85.

Elizabeth Scott and Diane Williams have both been creating jewellery for Artery for some time now, with great success for each of them.
Diane's work focused on a theme of stunning polished and tumbled semi-precious stones, in unusual colour combinations, including stones such as Dalmation jasper (Cruella De Vil eat your heart out!) and Prehnite. Her simple designs appeal to everyone due to the beautiful quality of stones and quirky colours.
Elizabeth Scott has created a new selection of chunky, colourful and fun designs, such as 'Honeycombe' necklace in vintage agate and pearls. Elizabeth enjoys creating unusual designs in rich colours.

Angela Learoyd specialises in creating jewellery using semi-precious stones, combined with her own hand-crafted silver beads and silver shapes, with unusual textured and imprinted designs. She often uses rare stones, in unusual combinations like her 'Inclusion' range, featuring tourmalinated quartz and hand-made silver pieces.

An unusual and unique piece of bold or colourful jewellery is one way to make you stand out from the crowd. It's fun to look to fashion magazines for inspiration, but it's much better to set trends than follow them!

Stop into the gallery to see our full collection of handmade designer jewellery from UK and international artists.

www.arteryuk.com

Invitation to Exhibit in Artery Gallery

So far the start to 2010 has been hectic! This first term of the year is always a busy time for us - planning our diaries for the new year, sourcing new artwork, and attending trade fairs.

Trade fairs and art fairs give us an opporunity to have a look at emerging artists, new collections from established artists, and give us new ideas for our gallery. However, this year we have found while attending some of these trade fairs, that many small, individual and newer artists cannot afford to exhibit at these sort of events, due to the unstable financial climate, and rising costs of exhibiting. In fact we have found that many larger, more commercial companies, selling mass-produced goods, have taken the place of the independant craftsperson at many of these fairs. What is even more unusual about this, is the fact that during the recession, we have found a much higher demand for quality, hand-made pieces, with the public favouring originality over mass-produced - so now, what is on offer at trade fairs doesn't really represent the consumers choice.

With this in mind, we are giving all craftspeople the opportunity to be considered for exhibition at Artery Gallery, St Andrews. It is a simple process - we ask that you first take a look at our website www.arteryuk.com and browse through the work that we currently have on exhibition. If you think that your work would fit in well with the look and feel of Artery, then send us an email, including some jpeg images of your work for us to look at, including approximate prices and sizes, or send an email with a link to their website - info@arteryuk.com

We will always respond to requests to exhibit in Artery - even if the work is not suitable for us we will always give feedback. Here at Artery, we are used to dealing with artists, crafts people and jewellers at different points of their career - from those just starting out to those who are well established. We pride ourselves not only on our great customer service, but our great 'artist's service' - having built successful careers for many of our artists, and built solid relationships with them too.

Success at The Christmas Emporium

Our 'Artery' stall at the Christmas Emporium

The Old Course Hotel's Christmas Emporium was a roaring success for us - and experience we would love to repeat in coming years.

The Old Course really inspired a festive feeling in all who attended, and kicked off the beginning of the season for us. They had wine tasting, kid's face painting, tasters of tablet and mulled wine, plus all the fantastic shopping - I even managed to find the time to do a little shopping there myself.
We were delighted to see lots of our customers there, and it was great to get the chance to talk to so many new customers too.

We had a selection of our smaller items from the gallery - jewellery, photo frames, glass birds, hand made pens and beautiful glass perfume bottles, giving everyone the opportunity to see what Artery is all about - handmade, unique artwork and gifts at a reasonable price.

If you would like to see more of our great gift ideas, stop into our gallery on South Street, or take a look at our full selection of artwork online.

www.arteryuk.com

Artery @ the Christmas Emporium, Old Course Hotel

On Saturday 5th December and Sunday 6th December, Artery Gallery will be attending the Old Course Hotel's 'Christmas Emporium'.

The Old Course Hotel, St Andrews, is hosting a Christmas Emporium, boasting roaring fires, golf displays, a wide selection of shopping and stalls, and a cosy Christmas atmosphere.

Artery Gallery will have a stand with our pick of beautiful handmade designer jewellery, handmade mirrors and photo frames, glassware and handmade clocks to inspire your Christmas shopping, making it easy for you to find the perfect gift.

The Emporium opens from 1pm until 5pm on both Saturday and Sunday, so come along and enjoy some relaxed and very Christmassy shopping! See you there.....

New Scottish Seaside Paintings from Two New Artists

Stormy Evening, Pittenweem, by Liz Myhill £225

Artery Gallery would like to introduce (and welcome!) two new artists - Nikki Monaghan and Liz Myhill. Both of these artists have recently delivered collections of their work to us for the first time, and have added something a bit different to Artery.

Liz Myhill, originally from the Isle of Skye (now she's a local in Tayside), has brought us a small selection of her work in two very distinct styles. Her collage style work features her own bold ink drawings cut out and imposed on collage landscapes and villages. This is a really distinct look and is totally unique in our gallery. Liz's other works are beautiful watercolour and mixed media paintings of recognisable places such as The House on the Rock in Pittenweem. These two styles couldn't be more different, or have a more broad appeal.

Harbour Nights ii by Nikki Monaghan £250

Nikki Monaghan's mixed media works also arrived with us just over a week ago, and offer a contrast to Liz's Scottish seaside scenes. Nikki's paintings are bold, bright and playful. When creating a new piece, she is re-creating a memory, rather than a representation of somewhere.
Nikki studied Textiles at art school, and started out her career as an interior stylist, working throughout the UK. She now focuses solely on her paintings and her career as an artist.

Stop into our gallery in St Andrews to see these new collections.

Fife's Coast and Landscape is Picture Perfect!

Colin Carruthers - Midsummer Landscape, Fife £1250

We have been lucky enough to receive a large collection of work from Artery regular Colin Carruthers. A regular visitor to Scotland, Colin paints these scenes based on places he has visited, from the islands such as Islay to the East Neuk.

Colin is most noted for his beautiful contemporary seascapes - taking his inspiration from the Scottish coastlines. This new collection has many of his stunning coastal paintings, but now also includes some landscapes based on our local scenery.
Colin has based some of his new oil landscapes on the area surrounding St Andrews and Cupar, featuring the stunning Fife countryside. This new genre still captures Colin's serene and peaceful mood which is seen in his seascapes. He has also included some smaller works in this series, making it easier for visitors to take away a painting of Fife.

Colin's paintings are on display in our gallery on South Street, St Andrews, or view all his work past and present at http://www.arteryuk.com/artists/Carruthers,Colin/