Spring art exhibition to be hosted by SOC
The Scottish Ornithologists' Club (SOC) will host a spring exhibition at its Aberlady headquarters in Lothian.
'Ode to Nature' features work by Fiona Clucas and Derek Robertson, and will run from 28 February-14 April 2024. It demonstrates the breadth of their work, both in terms of subject matter and media, as well as the artists' shared reverence for nature.
'The Sea Wolves' by Derek Robertson.
Fiona Clucas lives in south Cumbria and takes her inspiration from the wild places near her, as well as in the Lake District and Scotland. Many pieces are inspired by painting in the field, in particular at Leighton Moss, depicting the birdlife and flora of the marshland in different seasons, lights and weather. Other works draw on the wildlife in her own wild garden, the fleeting movements of birds and insects. The large studio drawings are a further reflection on these magical moments experienced in the wild, the sights and sounds of wintering geese or the buzz of insects in summer. Above all, these wokrs try and capture the spirit of a place, the wonder at these wild spaces and the wildlife that inhabits them. Fiona obtained a BA in Fine Art from Gloucestershire College of Arts. She is a member of the Society of Wildlife Artists (SWLA).
Derek Robertson divides his time between his studios in Fife and the Isle of Skye. He presents work from different series inspired by diverse habitats such as the Isle of May, Skye and the Tay Reedbeds, which he has studied for a long time. The exhibition also includes pieces from his recent book project, Bho Bheul an Eòin, which created Gaelic names for species of animals and plants newly established in Scotland. Since graduating from Duncan of Jordanstone College in Dundee, Derek has gained a reputation as one of Scotland's foremost wildlife artists.
The exhibition is free to enter. Opening hours are 10 am-4 pm from Wednesday-Sunday. Getting to the SOC's headquarters at Waterston House (EH32 0PY) is easy with a variety of road, rail and bus routes available.
