History in Landscape

While exploring shapes and layers in landscape, this time I’ve used photos taken during a visit to the ruins of the beautiful Dunnottar Castle in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, in July …

... and have been enjoying the miniature views of the modern agricultural landscape that I saw through the medieval window frames of the castle. 

I am fascinated by these little ‘look throughs’ and their layered glimpses of  history set against the present day and have been exploring them through small drawings in pencil, graphite and Koh-i-noor paint. 

Margaret Robbie

Linda's going round in circles

Hand stitching circular patterns

 and preparing to build Moroccan doorways

Stitching fish

Trying out shape and colour …

… then using scraps of silk, I started to embroider fishes on the red list from my drawings.

Carla Mines

Researching endangered fish

 Carla has been drawing and researching endangered fish ready for stitching.

Carla Mines

Referencing ancient history

As I develop some new work, I’ve been exploring in photography the archaeological evidence left in landscape - particularly the shapes left behind - the circles (especially) in all their forms, the straight lines and grids, random piles of stones and upright forms. 

These photos among many, many others were taken recently in Aberdeenshire and at the amazing Roman fort of Vindolanda in Northumberland. 

Margaret Robbie

Threatened species

Looking at The International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List of Threatened Species I started embroidering some of the endangered species. 

I came across poems from ‘The Gorgeous Nothings’ by Emily Dickinson that were written on scraps of envelopes and thought that I too would embroider on scraps. I decided that I would not buy any more fabric but use what I have. 

Carla Mines

In Retrospect

 Liz has been looking through cupboards and under beds, as well as work on the wall and has put together an exhibition that covers her forty years of textile practice. It is fascinating the way the same themes keep re-occurring and the importance of hand stitch in her practice, but most of all the love of colour.

 Here's an exciting exhibition to visit at the Lansdown Gallery in Stroud where Quinary are showing  their new work