Delighted I’ve had 2 watercolours accepted into the exhibition by Nature Galleries, teaming up with the Inverness Botanical Gardens, Cafe Botanics. The theme is ‘Rewilding’ and centred around environmental awareness and conservation of Scotland’s native Flora. Artists are encouraged to challenge their use of concept, material and medium to fit the title of the exhibition.
“Lions and Lace” will be hanging at the exhibition, and “From the Ashes, due to space challenges, will be showcased in the catalogue.

LIONS AND LACE:
I chose to depict dandelions and Queen Anne’s Lace in my artwork as these two plants are often associated with rewilding due to their role in supporting biodiversity and ecosystem health. Retaining whites through oil pastels and masking fluid, as one would retain natural elements in rewilding and preparing the ground for seed, I poured on mixtures of yellow and blue paints, like adding seeds, trees and shrubs to the canvas. The watercolour dictates the outcome, as does nature. Suggestions of leaves were enhanced in the background of the painting.
Both plants are examples of ‘pioneer species’ that can quickly colonize disturbed or degraded lands, creating the conditions necessary for other wildlife to return. They are among the first plants to appear in rewilding projects, setting the stage for more diverse plant and animal communities to develop.

FROM THE ASHES
Using black watercolour paint can be tied to the concept of rewilding in a symbolic way. Rewilding is about restoring natural processes and wilderness areas, and in the context of art, it’s about bringing a sense of the wild, untamed, and natural world into my work. Black watercolour paint was used to represent the unpredictable elements of nature and helped convey the suggestion of new growth from ashes of the past mistakes. Moreover, the use of black in watercolour painting is a subject of debate among artists, much as the concept of rewilding is amongst the world due to conflicting priorities and misunderstanding of what letting nature run wild truly entails.
The emerging forest from the watercolour paints was like forest emerging from the ground. The concept of crows, being highly adaptable and intelligent birds that play a significant role in the ecosystem, tied into my black colour and the rewilding theme, as they are often involved in rewilding efforts. They are a keystone species that can influence the composition and health of their habitats. Crows contribute to rewilding by supporting biodiversity, aiding in ecological processes, and serving as indicators of ecosystem health. Their role in rewilding projects is multifaceted and vital for the success of such conservation efforts.
The cafe is open daily from 9.30am – 4 pm. The exhibition will run from Monday 1st July – Saturday 31st August 2024.