Home Turf, Stirling and the Shire
Under its magnificent fifteenth century hammer beam roof, amidst its soaring Gothic arches, its space lit by glorious stained glass, The Church of the Holy Rude, Stirling is home to my new Spring exhibition of work. Featuring paintings of the city, its iconic landmarks, the River Forth and surrounding landscapes, the exhibition is open daily and runs until the end of May 2025.
The Holy Rude was a favourite place of worship for the Stuart Kings and Queens, and it was here, in 1567, that the Coronation of Mary Queen of Scots’ son, James VI, took place.
- Monday – Saturday: 10:00 – 18:00
- Sunday: 12:30-18:00
**Last Admission 17:30pm**
Adult: £5.00
Concession: £4.00 (child /student in full time education or adult 60 or over)
Child under 12: free
Children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult.
On Returning to Stirling
A memorable stint, a few years syne, as Historic Environment Scotland’s first artist in residence in Stirling Castle changed my life. I found a painting language to bring the past to the present through my art and it was marvellous. My studio was vast and encircled by the Castle walls. I was in deep, feeling and experiencing the lives lived many hundreds of years ago.
Then I moved studio to an alms house built in 1637 for a lucky few ‘decayed brethren’ of the parish and I joined the decayed spirits to conjure up the Battles of Flodden and Bannockburn and paid tribute to ‘the best queen Scotland never had’ Marie de Guise, mother of Mary, Queen of Scots.
And here I am, painting once again in the Church of the Holy Rude, the only other, still functioning church in the British Isles beside Westminster Abbey which has witnessed a coronation.
And who was that? Why, James VI of Scotland and 1st of England, Mary Stewart’s son.
A Trinity of Creativity, Mind and Body
A Trinity of Creativity, Mind and Body
It’s a blessed day when my mind feels peaceful and bright, my body comfortable and my creativity flows with possibility.
If I want to continue feeling energetic and inspired, I know I have to keep paying attention to all three areas;
Investing deeply in my artistic expression
Working diligently on my mind by helping free it from fears and past conditioning
Partnering with a Swedish health and wellness company Zinzino and taking omega 3 polyphenol-rich oil which brings my body back into balance by ridding it of inflammation.
BalanceOil by Zinzino (www.zinzino.com) coupled with Zinobiotic, a prebiotic powder for the gut biome and daily immune protection from Xtend tablets, a combination of vitamins and minerals, gives me renewed hope and optimism in all areas of my life.
l have learned that the majority of us have too much inflammatory omega 6 in our bodies and that makes blood cell membranes rigid leading to allergies, eczema and other autoimmune conditions. With me, it was stiffness and pain in my right arm that threatened to curtail my painting activity, coupled with fatigue, brain fog and poor eyesight. And this was despite spending well on organic food and supplements. Now I know that just a fraction of the nutrients were getting through to the crucial cell ‘factories’.
No wonder I was fatigued and demoralised.
Finding Zinzino for my own health was exactly what I was looking for. I joined immediately as an independent partner and now I have another, fascinating job. It’s my first foray into multi-level marketing and I had everything to learn but for me it’s a delight talking about these beautiful products that change lives on the cellular level.
So if what I’ve written about so far piques your interest and you too would like to become a partner or a customer, please get in touch with me (00447773347780) and I can tell you more. As much as you want to know and more about this test-based, preventative health, scientist-lead company from Sweden!
I look forward to hearing from you!”
Randolph’s Leap pool
Throughout June I’ve been painting on the River Findhorn close by Logie Steading (www.logie.co.uk) where I currently have a solo show of work. It’s been a magical experience perched on the edge of the cavernous Randolph’s Leap pool with a rather enormous board to work on; 30 x 40 inches to be precise. I’ve had to be agile around the rocks and I’m pleased with progress on this commissioned painting that’s been ordered for a birthday, early July.”
‘New Ground’ and exhibition of work by Moray Artists
Spring painting progressions
Spring painting progressions
Since my glorious late February painting expedition to my island namesake, many delicious and often chilly, many outside painting opportunities have presented. Partly because I’ve left my studio of two years ( studio number 17 in 20 years) and I notice that each move produces a new energy and direction. This move is no exception and there’s something about the bleached starkness of the these tough Morayshire beeches that has beguiled me and I’ve found a new palette that describes this clean, scoured nature. The result? A forest of tree paintings growing from my on the road studio, the trusty red VW Caddy van, Eileen.
Exploring The Thin Places
EXPLORING THE THIN PLACES
The Line Gallery in the historic burgh of Linlithgow north of Edinburgh is the venue for Iona’s next solo exhibition of work.
Entitled ‘Exploring the Thin Places’, her work explores travel and arrival and has taken her to ancient peoples who have traversed Scotland.
EXPLORING THE THIN PLACES
Scotland
2021
May 1-26
Places of Greater Safety
31 x 78 cms oil and mixed media on board
Of Another Time and Space
80 x 89 cms oil and mixed media on board
Blue Riders
45 x 64 cms oil and mixed media on board
Buy My Paintings
Interested in This Collection?
Open Studio Gallery
VISIT
Open Studio Gallery, Kinloss, Moray IV36 3TX
Iona lives close by, so she can sometimes be available at short notice to open her studio gallery – call her on 07773 347780 to ensure she’s in.
How to find the studio: adjacent to Kinloss Church, Findhorn Road on the corner of Glebe Road with a large car park in front of it. If you approach from Forres direction, Iona is on the right hand side just after the Abbey Inn IV36 3TX and Kinloss Chinese Takeaway.
Musical commision
A challenging but delightful commission
The brief was friends, family, pets, musical influences and aspects of the beloved city of Edinburgh. Iona began by inking up the board to create a lively surface and quickly painted in the four ABBA faces (bottom left).
Then came Donna Summer, Madonna and Kate Bush, then Edinburgh Castle, the chandeliers of the George Street Assembly Rooms, the Forth Rail Bridge and the heroic statue commemorating fallen soldiers of the many wars we have tangled in. Overlaying all of this, eleven portraits of friends and family and three dogs.