Vega
Vega
‘From as far back as I can remember I have always wanted to be an artist and throughout my life I have lived and worked as one. Submitting my portfolio I was accepted by Leeds University and after four years of experimental studio work coupled with intensive theoretical study received a BA (Hons) degree in Fine Art.
During the 80’s I did figurative work, concentrating on producing positive images of women of all ages and race and their role in society. These series of paintings sold and were published becoming the impetus behind my subsequent sketching and painting travels in Africa. During this period I moved to the Isle of Mull in Scotland also spending time in France, Spain, and Ireland to study, paint and teach before traveling to Africa in 1990. In the early 90’s I again journeyed to Europe to paint and teach, being lucky enough during these years to fit in a trip to Indonesia for further study.
These periods of study over many years have enabled me to learn different ways of painting and drawing which has freed me from becoming bound to any particular way of seeing and depicting the subject so that, hopefully, it is always new and different to the viewer. A bonus of this for me is that a number of buyers are always adding to their collections of my work.
The mid 90’s saw a move to the Isle of Lewis in the Outer Hebrides, a starkly beautiful island where the sea and the wind are a major part of life born by the quiet strength and forthrightness of the islanders.
Here I learnt to sail, how to build and maintain a boat and finally how to live aboard for months at a time so that now, when I do a marine painting I actually know how it feels to claw your way upwind against a foul tide in a force six. During these times aboard (for my paints and pad are always with me) I began signing my pictures “Vega” out of respect for the boat that carried me safely for hundreds of miles on my journeys.’
ISLAND BLUE GALLERY
Island Blue Gallery is an art gallery and gift shop located at Baliscate, near Tobermory on the Isle of Mull. We have a beautiful, light space filled with works by many skillful Scottish artists ranging from the mysterious and tranquil sweeping landscapes of Garry Brander to the mythical and surreal fantastical worlds of Matylda Konecka. A lot of the prints we stock have a distinctly Scottish feel and truly capture the essence of Scotland's landscape and wildlife.