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Invershin The Heart of the Highlands
Inspired by our ancient, modern and distinctive Highland culture, and by the dramatic and beautiful place where we live. We created this piece around that theme. The skin’s decoration is a tour of the history, language and culture of the Highlands, each part reflecting a different facetof the complex and diverse components that
make up the Highlands.
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Autumn Uncut Vellum
I began with Autumn, painting the leaves that I picked up from my walks along the river Spey. Rowan, oak, birch, horse-chestnut, sallow, aspen, alder, and maple from my garden. I worked on this over the winter months, completing it in time for spring.
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Spring Uncut Vellum
Next was Spring, on which I painted flowers and catkins from my walks around the area including; aconite, primrose, wood sorrel, common dog violet, snow drops, blaeberry, wood anemone and pink campion.
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Winter Uncut Vellum
I enjoyed working on the Winter season and had many a moonlit walk in the woods in the snow to get a feel for the painting. The Spey opens out into what we call the “lagoon”, and the re flections on it are amazing in winter moonlight. There have been sightings of the snowy owl in the Cairngorms, and the year I was working on this there were recorded sightings of one. The “lagoon” is also a great winter stop over for the Canada goose and a great place to see herons and other winter birds
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Summer Uncut Vellum
Summer season came last in this group, a fantastic time of year, especially if the weather’s good! Again the view takes in Creag Mhigeachaidh and an osprey chick in its nest above the Spey, rainbow trout leaping in the “lagoon”, probably the osprey’s next meal! Also painted are the Emperor Moth and its caterpillar. This moth has no mouth and doesn’t feed, it just breeds and lays its eggs to carry on life’s cycle. The Peacock, Scotch Argus, Small Pearl bordered Fritillary and Marsh Fritillary butter flies, Golden Ringed dragonfly, Bumble bee and Ladybird surround the osprey’s nest.
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Pine Piper Uncut Vellum
I based the Pine Piper on my Dad, John McDougall, a world famous piping competitor, tutor and judge. Sadly, he’s not with us now, but he laughed when I showed him the finished artwork, he couldn’t see himself in it at all! That makes me laugh now and makes it a happy painting. I enjoyed doing it. Dad used to practice a lot outdoors, he loved nature. I should have painted on a few midges too! On it are, a red squirrel, gold crest, crested tit and musical pine cones.
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Lunar Solace Uncut Vellum
Lunar Solace was exhibited at a Celtic Cross Exhibition in Fairport, New York State in the spring of 2008. Burgess helped me with the spirals for this piece. Herons, butterflies and knot work adorn the Celtic lady kneeling be low the moon.
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Jewel's of the Night Uncut Vellum
For as long as I can remember I have been interested in moths and butterflies. My Mum used to take her butterfly net on walks and used to breed caterpillars when we were young, so it’s thanks to my Mum that this Moth vellum was painted!
I have been recording moths for many years and send my records on to Butterfly Conservation. The moths on this vellum were trapped in my Robinson moth trap, pho-tographed, recorded and released in 2007. All in all there were 120 different species of moth caught throughout the year and I decided to paint them as a record. Most were caught in my back garden at Kin-craig, others not too far away at Speybank, Drumguish, Glen Avon, and some further afield on holiday on the Summer Isles island of Tanera Mor. The story of my Tanera Mor moth night was published in a butterfly magazine.
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John McDougall at 65 Cut Vellum
I cut this vellum into the shape of a pipe bag for Dad's 65th Birthday.
