 'Coastal #4'. Part of an original mixed media artwork. 15cm x 15cm. Framed A new chapter Spring finally arrived last week, with some real warmth and the cuckoo calling in the glen. Two of them have been swooping and diving around the house over the past few days. The swallows are here too, so it feels as though spring and summer have appeared together! At last it's warm enough to spend some time planting things and sowing seeds in our growing dome. Since I wrote this, the haar has rolled in from the sea and it's decidedly chilly again! On the art front, I'm enjoying having the space at our art cafe in Poolewe to display my artwork, alongside Ailsa's textiles and art, and Iain's photography. It has all come together very well and we've had lots of appreciative comments (and quite a few sales), which has been lovely. There are also some new greetings card, mug and coaster designs, from some of the work I made at Bridge House Art portfolio course over the winter. That time feels almost like a dream now!
'Easterlies #8' and 'Easterlies #2'. Original mixed media artworks. Bridge Cottage Art Cafe The cafe is going well, so some of my time each week is set aside for different creative endeavours, namely baking! Family favourites such as date slice and Victoria sponge have been going down well. And Ailsa's rocky road and triple chocolate brownies, along with Iain's cheese scones and haggis sausage rolls (invented by Ailsa) are getting rave reviews. If you're ever passing through Poolewe, do pop by and say hello! We've had a few old friends do that recently, it was so lovely to see them. We're now open Friday - Tuesday, 10am - 4pm. Closed on Wednesdays and Thursdays.
Press Gang exhibition - all over now I was delighted to have some original prints in the 'Press Gang' exhibition, alongside 48 other printmakers, at An Talla Solais gallery on Market Street in Ullapool, earlier this month. There was a wonderful range of work on show. A few of my printed pieces will be making their way into the Bridge Cottage Art Cafe gallery very soon.
'Edge #1' and 'Edge #9'. Original mixed media artworks, both 15cm x 15cm. Currently on show at Loch Torridon Community Centre gallery. Loch Torridon Community Centre gallery The other week I made a long overdue trip to Torridon to restock the lovely gallery there with some new original artwork, greetings cards and sketchbooks and notebooks. It was a beautiful sunny day, so it turned into a grand day out. We enjoyed lunch at the Wee Whistlestop cafe in the community centre - always good to see what others have to offer! The gallery is open Monday - Friday and Sunday, 10am - 4pm. Closed on Saturdays.
Loch Torridon in the spring sunshine 2025 art calendars Next year's calendars have just arrived - see some of the pages above. It's a slimline, postcard version again, with new work produced at the portfolio course over the winter. Mixed media and print/collage. Now available to purchase from Bridge Cottage Art Cafe or from my website shop. Thank you for your interest in my work, it is greatly appreciated.
all the best Jennifer
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 Bridge Cottage Art Cafe is open! I hope this finds you well and that you've had a wonderful festive season. I'm delighted to say that we opened our art cafe in Poolewe on Friday 3rd November and it's been nonstop ever since. For now, my daughter Ailsa and husband Iain are running it, with me helping out at the weekends. We've been overjoyed at the response from locals and visitors alike - everyone is very happy that we are open at this time of year. So many places closed at the end of October for the season. The homemade baking, soups and hot filled rolls have been going down a treat, and I am making progress with my barista training! The wee gallery and gift shop space upstairs is a great space for showcasing all our work. Ailsa painted a wonderful mural, inspired by our lovely Highland scenery, on one wall of the cafe (see photo below). Our winter opening hours are 10am to 4pm, Thursday to Sunday.     Above - Some of the work I've produced during the portfolio course - pen and ink, small oils and a monoprint (window) Bridge House Art Portfolio course Just before Christmas, I completed the first 8 week term of the art portfolio course in Ullapool. I've learned so much over that time, now it's time to pause and reflect. We've had a week each of a wide range of topics, using a variety of media, including charcoal, ink, oils, acrylics, collage and printing ink. Among other things. we've been taught methods of:
Next term we'll be focusing on our own individual projects. The course ends with a group exhibition at An Talla Solais (where we are based for the course) in Ullapool, from 25th Feb - 3 March 2024. Pebbles on the Beach
I'm not planning to attend any markets next year. Now that we have the premises in Poolewe with the gallery space, all my artwork and related products are available to purchase from Bridge Cottage Art Cafe. I'll be there in person at least some of the time at weekends in January and February, and much more regularly after that. I look forward to seeing you there! I still have some items at Loch Torridon Community Centre Gallery and also at The Button Bothy in Poolewe. For those of you further afield, my website shop remains open. In the meantime, thanks again for your continued support. Wishing you a joyful, healthy and happy New Year. all the best Jennifer  Luskentyre beach on Harris I hope this finds you well and enjoying some summery weather. It was unusually hot here for a few weeks recently, but now the normal school holiday weather has resumed, with wind and rain. The garden is flourishing now that it's been watered and everywhere is looking very green. I enjoyed ten days' holiday (actually, our honeymoon) on Lewis and Harris in May; it was great to explore different landscapes and beaches. Plenty photographs were taken and a few sketches made.
New market I'm delighted to say that I'm now taking part in Ullapool Local Artisan Market. This event takes place fortnightly (approximately) on Mondays in Ullapool Village Hall, from 10am - 4pm. There's a great selection of local arts and crafts to browse and buy. I'll be there on Mondays 7th & 21st August and 4th & 18th September. You can also still find me at Poolewe Tuesday market every week, Torridon Thursday Craft Market on alternate Thursdays and Gairloch Thursday Market when I'm not in Torridon! All dates are available on my website or on each market's Facebook page.
I'm still enjoying linoprinting and have had many lovely comments about the results at the local markets - thank you! I mainly print onto sketchbooks and notebooks, but I've also started mounting prints on paper. The puffin is a recent, popular addition and the three fishes design has become a favourite. New Designs I've been taking more photographs recently, rather than painting. The result is some new mug, coaster and card designs, entitled 'Lewis Blues'. Two of the new mugs are shown below.
Members' Exhibition at An Talla Solais in Ullapool
I've submitted some work - photography this time, for a change, for the annual Members' Show at An Talla Solais in Ullapool. Here's hoping it's accepted!
Thank you so much for your continued support, it is greatly appreciated. all the best 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 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 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  I hope this finds you safe and well and bearing up under whatever restrictions are in place in your part of the world. The season is over for Poolewe Tuesday Market – it was wonderful to be part of it for the first time this year. We went out with a bang, with all the stallholders dressed up for Halloween for the last event. We are looking forward to having not one, but two Christmas markets – on Friday 27th November (4-8pm) and Saturday 28th November (10am -2pm) in Poolewe Village Hall. I will be there on the Friday evening. 2021 calendar This year’s (or should I say next year’s) calendar features photographs taken over the past twelve months, on the west coast of Scotland. As before, it is a slimline calendar, with each image printed on the back for use as a postcard. Below are some of the images in the calendar. It's now available to purchase in my online shop.
 Exhibition I am very happy to have a couple of paintings (including the one shown above, "Fair, Moderate or Good") in the newly opened online - for the first time ever - Members’ Show at An Talla Solais. This is a lovely exhibition of the work of 66 member artists. The upside of it being online this year is that you can all enjoy browsing it too! Enjoy. Cabinet, the lovely gift shop adjacent to An Talla Solais gallery in Ullapool, has now reopened. It is open Tuesday-Saturday, 10am-1pm and 2pm-5pm. They are currently stocking a selected range of my greetings cards, mugs, coasters and keyrings.
Notebooks As promised, and by popular request, I now have a selection of lined notebooks available. There are two sizes – A5 and A6, and all have original linoprints on the front cover. They come in a range of colours – all available from my website shop. There is also still a range of A5 sketchbooks available there and small square ones too.  Local News
Last but by no means least, there has been much excitement locally, as the news emerged that the fabulous Gairloch Museum, which moved into its new premises and reopened last summer, was one of the winners of the UK-wide Museum of the Year award. One of the other winners was Aberdeen Art Gallery. I'm delighted to be connected to both these wonderful places - the art gallery shop in Aberdeen stocks some of my Shipping Forecast mugs and coasters, and I have cards and sketchbooks in the Gairloch Museum shop. In celebration, I gave the museum here a little linoprint of the Rubh Re Foghorn, which now has pride of place at the front of the building (the actual foghorn, not my print!). Happy to say they liked it so much they are now stocking greetings cards bearing this design in their lovely gift shop. They also have lighthouse design ones there too. Thank you so much for your interest in my work, it is greatly appreciated. I have really enjoyed meeting people face to face (socially distanced and wearing masks, of course) at the Poolewe Tuesday markets this year and receiving very positive feedback about my work. Stay safe and well all the best Jennifer Find Out More  I hope this finds you safe and well. There has been some more summery weather on the west coast these past few days and I am enjoying starting to see the fruits of my recent labours in the slowly developing "garden". It's like painting a picture, I've come to realise - putting colours and textures together, to create something pleasing to the eye. Of course the garden "picture" does not stay the same, as the seasons come and go, so the gardener must be continually trimming and tweaking, looking, adjusting and adjusting again. It is a continuous work in progress.
Artist Support PledgeSince the Covid-19 lockdown, many artists and makers have been looking for different ways to keep going; exhibitions have been cancelled, gift shops and other outlets such as cafes, restaurants and galleries are closed. A UK based artist, Matthew Burrows, had the idea of setting up the Artist Support Pledge, on Instagram, for artists to support other artists during this difficult time. The concept is simple - an artist posts images of their work, costing no more than £200 each, on Instagram, using the hashtag #artistsupportpledge. Buyers contact the artist directly. When an artist reaches £1000 of sales, they pledge to buy £200-worth of other artists' work. I have recently joined this pledge, and am posting artwork daily on Instagram. Only the items listed there are included in the pledge - I'll be adding more items as time goes on. It seems like a good way of us all supporting each other - of course, you don't have to be an artist to buy works included in the pledge! Some of the artworks I've listed so far are shown above.
PhotographyMany of you already know that as well as painting, I love taking photographs. I know lots of folk have been missing visiting their favourite places in Scotland in recent times, so I've been busy updating my website to include a photography page, showing a selection from my portfolio. This links to another website (Photo4me) where you can buy canvases, prints etc. of my work. There's 10% off just now, on all items - just use the code kindness2020 at checkout.
Card Collections
If you're finding it tricky to get hold of greetings cards just now, I've expanded my card collections - there are now 15 different collections, each with 5 different cards. Hopefully there's something for everyone - shown above are -and below -
As always, thank you so much for your interest in my work, it is greatly appreciated. I am hopeful that there may be some opportunities to share my work in real life before the summer is over. In the meantime, stay safe and well. all the best Jennifer |
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