 I hope this finds you safe and well. At long last, it feels as though spring is in the air - there are wild violas in the garden, the larch is covered in bright green paintbrushes of fresh needles and there are primroses in the woods. Visitors have started arriving, places are opening up and it's time to move forward again. New Stockist - The Carron Pottery I'm delighted to say that I now have some of my work in stock at the lovely Carron Pottery, at Cam-allt by Strathcarron. I'm especially happy about this, given my long-standing links with Lochcarron. I spent most of my childhood holidays there, staying in my granny's house in Slumbay - the area is full of happy memories. The Pottery now has a selection of my greetings cards, linoprinted sketchbooks and notebooks and also some small original, mounted watercolours.  Torridon Thursday Market - fortnightly This week saw the first Torridon Thursday Craft and Food Market in Loch Torridon Community Centre Hall. I'm delighted to be taking part this year - I'll be there every two weeks with a selection of my original artwork and gifts. The next market will be on Thursday 28th April, 10am - 3pm. There is a lovely mixture of stallholders, all with a warm welcome. Poolewe Tuesday Market I'm happy to say that this market is up and running again (the first one was on 29th March). I'll be there every week until the end of the season, at the end of October. This year sees some lovely new stallholders joining in, as there is space for a few more folk again. It's always lovely to meet new people and catch up with folk. I look forward to seeing you there! It's on every Tuesday from 10am - 2.30pm.  The linoprinted sketchbooks and notebooks are proving to be very popular. I now have a wider range of sizes - from A6 size, plain cartridge paper, to 11 x 11 inch large square sketchbooks. Selected sizes are currently available from Gairloch Museum, Poolewe Tuesday Market, Torridon Thursday Market, Loch Torridon Community Centre Gallery, Carron Pottery, and The Button Bothy in Poolewe.  Exhibition at Inverewe Garden, Poolewe
I'm happy to be part of a mixed exhibition at Inverewe Garden: Opened on Friday 15th April In Osgood's Cafe - at the top of the main car park. On show until further notice. Many thanks for your continued interest in my work. all the best Jennifer
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 I hope this finds you safe and well. Happy New Year! I know it's a little late in the day to be sending such greetings, but I feel as if I am stepping rather tentatively into 2022. This time last year we were in lockdown once more and it's quite hard to believe we are now free to be out and about and that everything is opening up again. I find myself blinking in the rare glimpses of winter sunshine, as if coming out hibernation, starting to believe that it really is possible to move forward again.  Delighted to say that I donated £55 to the World Wide Fund for Nature, from all the Christmas card sales at the end of last year! Many thanks to everyone who bought cards - much appreciated. I received a lot of positive feedback about the designs, which is encouraging me to explore other avenues along similar lines. Watch this space...
I've been updating my website shop - a continuous task, like painting the Forth Rail Bridge, which never ends, but is nonetheless very satisfying. I've added a range of items back in, including some original linoprints.  Back in the studio The winter skies here can be very dramatic and are an endless source of inspiration. The trick is to have everything ready to go - paper stretched onto boards, paints, water and brushes organised. Sounds simple, doesn't it? Of course, in real life that's not how it goes - I've finally got back into the studio to do some painting - above is a work in progress. Or maybe it's finished? I've been adding islands into my seascapes recently - decision, decisions!
Coming up
The lovely Gairloch Museum is reopening for the season next week, on Thursday 10th February. I'll be along to check on my cards and sketchbook stock in the gift shop. I'm looking forward to taking part in Poolewe Tuesday Market again this year - from the end of March until the end of October, all being well. I'm hoping to be there most weeks - I'll let you know dates as soon as I know. It's also looking likely that I'll be exhibiting some artwork at Inverewe this year (I was to have had an exhibition in the cafe there in 2020, which of course did not happen). It will be great to see art exhibitions happening there again. You can find out more on the Galleries @ Inverewe website. Many thanks for your continued interest in my work. Wishing you peace, health and joy in 2022. Jennifer
Three small original watercolours - Maybe IV, Maybe V and Maybe VI I hope this finds you safe and well. The weather here turned wintry quite suddenly, with autumn being rather damp this year. The colours were still beautiful, if muted. It's been wild and windy outside, with rain and hail showers and snow on the mountain tops. Time to stoke up the fire and hunker down! Many thanks to everyone who came along to the Christmas markets at Poolewe Hall recently and also the Soup Lunch at Gairloch Community Hall yesterday.  I'm delighted to have two small paintings on show in the winter exhibition (until 18th December) of local artists at Gairloch Museum. The one above is entitled "Fire and Ice". Museum now open winter hours : Wednesday - Saturday, 11am - 4pm. The cafe is open too - I can highly recommend it.
I have a few 2022 calendars left - they are still in my website shop. When they're gone, they're gone...  I've been delighted by the feedback about this year's Christmas card designs - thank you so much! I'll be letting you know about my promised donation to World Wide Fund for Nature in the New Year. There are a few packs left, if you've not written yours yet...
In the meantime, Season's Greetings and all the very best for the New Year. Thank you so much for your continued interest in my work. Jennifer  Rust and lichen. Abstract image - included in my 2022 photography calendar. I hope this finds you safe and well. Summer days are gone now here in the northwest Highlands, with blustery showers and dramatic skies taking their place. I do love this time of year and am looking forward to the autumn colours appearing - there are hints of them already, in the bracken and some of the trees. 2022 calendars It's that time of year again - I took delivery of next year's calendars recently. As before, they are slimline ones, with images printed on the back for use as postcards. The images are all photographs taken locally over the past year or so. Seascapes, sandscapes and textures that caught my eye - from corrugated iron to barnacles on a rock. A few images are shown below. Calendars are now available to order from my website. If you live locally, they're available directly from me at Poolewe Tuesday market until the end of October. Also being stocked at the Button Bothy at Poolewe Hall. End of an era I've been very happy to have some of my work - mugs, coasters and cards - stocked in the lovely Cabinet Ullapool, and also to have exhibited at An Talla Solais gallery on West Argyle Street in Ullapool. The premises had to be vacated, so it's time for a new chapter for An Talla Solais and Cabinet. They still have premises in the town and plans are afoot for what happens next. I'll keep you posted!  Christmas cards I'm happy to say that this year's Christmas cards are now available. I spent a happy couple of days arranging beach treasure - shells, pebbles, driftwood - to make this year's designs. I always knew all these natural materials would come in handy one day! I've decided, given current circumstances, to donate 10% of all Christmas card sales to the World Wide fund for Nature (Scotland). There are 6 different designs (4 shown below). Available now from my website, in packs of 6 cards with envelopes :
Exhibition at Gairloch Museum Coming soon - a winter exhibition of small works by selected local artists, at Gairloch Museum. I will be submitting two paintings for this - the exhibition opens at the start of November. Information about opening times will be available nearer the time.  Poolewe Christmas Markets Happy to say that I'll be at both the Poolewe Christmas Markets this year:
 Photography
I'm still taking photographs - nearly every day, when I'm out walking. Mostly on my phone, but sometimes using my camera. The phone ones are regularly posted on Instagram. A wide selection of images is available to purchase in various sizes and formats via Photo4me - a subset of these can be seen on my website. Thank you for your continued interest in my work. If you have any queries, please don't hesitate to get in touch. all the best Jennifer  'Distant Isles II'. Currently on show at Loch Torridon community centre gallery. I hope this finds you safe and well end enjoying the summer. It's good to hear that things are opening up again - it's been a long time coming. New moving image work on show In my previous newsletter, I mentioned that some new work had been selected for an upcoming exhibition. I'm happy to let you know that the online exhibition, 'A Space Between', curated by the Society of Scottish Artists, is now open and is available to view until 5th September. My moving image piece, combining photography, spoken word and recorded sound, is called 'Sand'. There is a lovely range of work to enjoy.  Postcards now available I've produced a set of six postcards featuring local scenes and landmarks (4 are shown below) and am happy to say these are now available from a couple of local stockists - Gairloch Gifts (at the Filling Station) and the GALE centre. They're also available directly from me at Poolewe Tuesday Market. I'm there most weeks until the end of October. Details of dates are available on my website. Some of these images are also available as photographic prints and canvases via my photography portfolio on the Photo4me website. Restock of Loch Torridon community centre gallery I delivered some new work to the lovely Loch Torridon community centre gallery the other day - several seascapes (see top image) and a selection of small works and greetings cards. I'm happy to say that they're now also stocking a selection of my customised sketchbooks and notebooks. The gallery has a great mix of work on show (including ceramics, baskets, glasswork and more, see images below) and there is a lovely popup cafe, which is open Monday - Friday 9am - 6pm.
Many thanks for your continued interest in my work. Do pop by and say hello at Poolewe Tuesday market, if you're in the area. best regards Jennifer  'Distant Isles III' - off to a new home via the An Talla Solais Members' Show. I hope this finds you safe and well. The past few months have been busy with supplying my stockists, as everywhere gradually opens up again. It has been good to be back at Poolewe Tuesday Market again - there are always interesting conversations to be had with visitors, as well as with my fellow stallholders. It's great to hear how many creative folk are around!
Inchgowan Fine Art Inchgowan Fine Art is opposite The Old Inn, just along from Gairloch Harbour, over the old bridge. I'm delighted to announce that I now have artwork on show at a lovely local gallery - Inchgowan Fine Art in Gairloch (formerly Solas Gallery). There's some framed work on the walls, mounted work in a browser and smaller framed and mounted work - all original watercolours and mixed media. The two paintings shown below - 'Coastal 6' and 'Shore 1' are currently on show there. There is an interesting mix of work by several artists - well worth a visit!
New stockist The gift shop at Gairloch Filling Station has recently been extended and revamped into a great space. Happy to say I have some items available there - selected mug, coaster and greetings card designs. Open Monday - Saturday 8.30am - 5.30pm.
New work - new directions I recently submitted some work to the Society of Scottish Artists (SSA), of which I'm a member, in a new format for me - moving image, or more specifically, a film poem. It's called 'Sand'. I've spent a lot of time walking on sandy beaches (very lucky, I know) over the past couple of years, which inspired the (spoken) words and images. I am delighted to say that my piece has been selected to be shown in an online exhibition on the SSA website in August! I'm very happy with this outcome, as I'd been keen to combine words and images (and other sounds) for a while and this provided an ideal opportunity. The theme for the open call was "A Space Between'. I'll let you know when it's available to view online. Sand photograph - a still image from my first film poem.  Coming Soon .... Do you still send postcards when you're away on holiday? I know, I know, we've forgotten what it's like to be away on holiday. Here's hoping you get to travel before too long. I was away for a break last week, in another beautiful part of Scotland - yes, there are definitely other beautiful parts - and it was so refreshing to have a change of scene. We don't need to go far to get the holiday feeling, I believe. Back to postcards ... there's a new project in the offing, more news soon! Keep an eye on Facebook and Instagram for updates. Here's a sneak preview.
As always, a selection of my work can be seen on my website. As things have opened up in recent times, I have been open for prearranged studio visits - these will recommence later this month. It's so much better to see artwork in real life than on a screen!
Thank you for your continued interest in my work. I hope you're enjoying the summer, wherever you may be. best regards Jennifer  I hope this finds you safe and well. I'm delighted to say that a number of my stockists are now open again - Gairloch Museum, Loch Torridon Community Centre, The Button Bothy in Poolewe, and Cabinet in Ullapool. Please check their websites and/or social media for opening times. I'm also very happy to say that Poolewe Tuesday market will take place for the first time this year tomorrow, Tuesday 4th May! I'm so looking forward to seeing my fellow stallholders again and of course meeting visitors old and new. The market is in Poolewe Village Hall from 10am - 2.30pm, with a takeaway cafe raising funds for the Highland Hospice running most weeks. I'll be there most weeks until the end of October - see my website for further details.  New sketchbooks I've extended the range of customised sketchbooks I produce, with the addition of a large square design. I'll have them at my stall at Poolewe Market tomorrow and they'll be available soon via my website. There will also be a few small, travel watercolour paintboxes available, for anyone who would like to do some sketching and needs some materials to start them off!
Upcoming Exhibition An Talla Solais gallery in Ullapool are putting on their annual Members' Exhibition, from 22 May - 27 June. Happy to have some of my work on show, including "Distant Isles III", shown below. Opening times, Tues - Sat 10am - 1.30pm and 2pm - 5pm.  Many thanks for your continued interest in my work.
Hope to see you soon! best regards Jennifer I find the alphabet a helpful structure in my writing, so when I came to write a list of what I feel grateful for over the past twelve months, I turned to it again to help me. It didn't let me down. A is for Art and creativity – admittedly, this has come in waves, but at times has been very helpful in keeping me moving forward. B is for Black Isle Correspondent, daily videos from; a little bit of madness, kindness and real life every day, especially during the first lockdown. Grateful thanks to Anna Massie. C is for Camomile tea. And cake – the making and partaking of it, the sharing of it with friends, when possible. D is for Dog. My dog for making me smile every day, and often laugh too E is for Empty beaches for walking on, I'm so lucky to live where I do. F is for Friends and family, for staying in touch G is for Growing things and gardening. H is for Hugs - the ones we had before it all started, which we didn't know were so precious, and the illicit ones which were all the more precious for being so. I is for Isolation – that may sound strange, but living at a distance from densely populated areas gave me a feeling of safety. Also, conversely - I is for Internet, for keeping us connected. J is for Just being – some days, that was all that was required, or indeed possible. K is for Kindness – to myself and from others L is for Love from old friends and new M is for Mindfulness, learning a new way of being and practicing it. N is for Noticing nature in so many ways. The tides, the seasons, the light. O is for Oranges and occasionally olives. P is for Playing music on my mandolin. Also Photography - taking photos feels like a form of meditation to me. Q is for Quiz shows on TV, especially Only Connect and Mastermind. Monday evenings’ entertainment. R is for Refreshing my knowledge and love of languages and learning a new one or two, on Duolingo. Also, reading. Novels, poetry, familiar and new. S is for Slowing down, social media, staying in touch. Also Soup, the making and supping of it. T is for Tunes – playing old ones and writing new ones U is for Unforgotten – a cold case series on TV; totally hooked. Also old murder mysteries, the familiarity of them, the satisfying resolution. V is for Very funny radio programmes, especially some of those on at 6.30pm on Radio 4, providing lots of laughter while I make my tea. W is for Walking. Every day. Walking and the peace of it. Sometimes walking with a friend. Also for Writing; the joy of putting words together, in a poem, a story, a post. X is for Acceptance – I will cheat a little here perhaps – taking the X to mean being not being allowed to do things. Accepting the situation, the imposed restrictions, the fact that I could not travel anywhere and no-one could come here – all that. Accepting it all made it a whole lot easier to make the most of what I could still do – many of these things are listed here. Y is for Yes – saying yes to new things, to taking part in online workshops and courses and exhibitions. Z is for Zoom, which I hadn't heard of this time last year, but now value highly, for staying in touch and keeping things going. Distant Isles I. Original watercolour on paper. 45cm x 25cm approx. Unframed. Hello. I hope this finds you safe and well and managing to find a way through what is hopefully the last part of this very trying time. Living where I do, I’m very fortunate to have beautiful beaches nearby to walk on. I do this most days, with my dog. Sometimes, if the weather is wild or wet, we venture inland a bit, walking in a sheltered glen with large trees and a burn flowing through it. I’ve taken a lot of photos over the past year of walking. Mainly on my phone, sometimes with my camera. I've posted some of these nearly every day on Instagram and less frequently on Facebook. There's a spot where I always go and stand, at the far end of one of the beaches. I now have a whole series of photos from that spot – I'm working out what to do with them. I've been doing some more writing recently, spurred on by attending (online) a wonderful week-long Arvon at Home course, called Exploring Creativity. I've posted a few poems on Instagram and also on my blog. Watch this space for further developments. I've also been updating my photography portfolio on the Photo4me website. New work and Poolewe Market I've recently spent some time in the studio, painting a few more seascapes. The first of these is shown at the top of this newsletter. I plan to add some more coastal works to the collection – these proved popular at Poolewe Tuesday Market last year. Speaking of which, we're keeping our fingers very firmly crossed that the market will be able to start for the season in early May. Of course, this will depend on the regulations in place at that time. I'll keep you posted. I'm so looking forward to getting out and about and meeting people again; I’m sure you are too! See the Seascapes Online Shop For now, my online shop is very much open. There are still some limited edition prints available, calendars are now reduced in price, and there are some new small works to choose from. There's also a wide range of greetings cards, some sketchbooks and notebooks and even keyrings. Happy browsing! Limited edition prints There are some of these still available, at sale prices. The Thistle image below is an example. To be discontinued. Shop the sale » Notebooks A variety of customised notebooks are available in my website shop (see image below) I just received some new stock, so new designs, of both notebooks and sketchbooks, will be available soon! See the notebooks »
Thank you for your continued interest in my work, it's greatly appreciated.
Hope to see you soon - until then, stay safe and well. all the best Jennifer
There are days
when your footsteps in the sand barely break the surface when the grains are hard packed - stacked by the receding tide the sea seeped away drained into the bay those are the days when you make no impression barely a dent is rent in the perfect surface only the occasional crack of a shell as your track shifts to the high tide line there are days when the sand shifts - drifts beneath your feet each step an effort in the soft brown sugar of the shore and others have been here before, churning, turning stirring its softness, leaving it spoiled soiled until the tide turns there are days when the top layer of sand looks firm but your boots sink several inches into its depths you plod on, across the bank leave holes where you sank but rose again there are days when the sea weeps - seeps its way back up the shore more and more till what seems firm is liquid and when stepping forward you realise a little late the fate awaiting - the fluid form lying low ready to pull you beneath its innocent surface with an insistent grasping there are days when the wind howls across the bay your boots sandblasted by the loose top layer - the poor dog’s eyes filled with grit - those are no days to sit and stare out to sea |
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