Contemporary brings together seven exceptional artists in recognition of the strength and depth of their artistic talent. The exhibition includes creatives from various stages in their careers and acknowledges the validity of all mediums in contemporary practice featuring work from: David Cass, Doug Cocker, David Cook, Kate Downie, Richard Goldsworthy, Christine McArthur and Calum McClure. Discover more about individual artists below in our Contemporary film blog.
David Cass (B.1988)
David Cass was born in Edinburgh and brought up in the Scottish Borders. He graduated from Edinburgh College of Art in 2010, receiving the Royal Scottish Academy’s John Kinross Scholarship to Florence. In 2018, the institution named work by Cass as the most promising created by a practicing artist in Scotland under 35. With each new project, Cass’ exploration into environmental themes deepens.
Cass is difficult to pigeon-hole as he works across such a wide variety of media: principally he creates three-dimensional paintings using exclusively found objects sourced at flea-markets around Europe – though his practice also involves digital media and sculpture.
David CassRising sea levels have been the principal focus of my artwork for some time now, and I've used a variety of media to raise awareness. But I always come back to painting, the subject I studied and the medium I feel most affinity with. My aim is to make accessible artworks - offering entry points - presenting topics that touch us all.
Watch David’s beautiful film below where he discusses his previous exhibitions as well as the work within Contemporary.
Richard Goldsworthy (B.1995)
Richard Goldsworthy graduated from Edinburgh College or Art with a BA (Hons) in Sculpture in 2019. During his studies, Richard was awarded the RSA Barns-Graham Travel Award which he used for a study trip to South Korea. Since July 2021, he has been based at Marchmont Creative Spaces in Berwickshire.
Working mainly with wood, Richard carves, chars, bleaches or casts elements to create highly contrasted objects that are visually intriguing. Charring gives the wood a denser, deeper texture beyond its basic colour and contrasts with any metal inclusions, which Richard casts into the wood, as well as with the natural grain and colour of the wood itself.
Watch a snippet of Richard’s practice in his Studio Insights film below:
Richard GoldsworthyMy practice is centred on transforming and combining different materials, developing new processes to create intriguing sculptural forms and drawings. Currently my work focuses on wood and pewter. Although a lengthy process, sourcing green wood is a vital part of making, tracing its provenance and influencing how the wood reacts during its drying process. Then by carving, sanding and burning. I add striking contrasts to expose, highlight and celebrate the natural features and so-called imperfections. It is a delicate balance between my input and allowing the materials to find their own voice, to make their own mark.
Christine McArthur (B.1953)
Christine McArthur was born in Kirkintilloch, near Glasgow in 1953 and studied at The Glasgow School of Art between 1971 and 1976. McArthur works in oil, oil pastel, acrylic, watercolour, pen and ink and collage so that layers of colour and texture are built up to create her artwork. She is an artists who has strong characteristics of Modern British painting whilst remaining firmly rooted in the Glasgow School of belle peinture. She has exhibited in Scotland, London and internationally.
Christine’s work is always changing and developing, in a wide variety of medium, all underwritten by her innate skill in drawing and sense of design. Her practice ranges from free and immediate studies in watercolour of flowers and still life, to her signature embroideries (which first appeared in her post-diploma show in 1976), and her much admired and sought-after collages. Texture, colour and design are at the heart of all her work.
In 2020, Managing Director Christina Jansen chatted to Christine McArthur on Zoom about her work and practice which you can watch below:
Calum McClure (B.1987)
Calum McClure was born in 1987 and graduated in Drawing and Painting from Edinburgh College of Art in 2010. He has been exhibiting with The Scottish Gallery since his graduation, and moved to Italy in 2022.
For this exhibition Calum McClure has made paintings based on places and ideas from his new home in Italy. During the process of moving there, he began reading the works of Italo Calvino (to improve his Italian) and the resulting series of paintings and monotypes take direct inspiration from images conjured by the author’s writings, in particular Marcovaldo.
McClure is a painter who immerses himself in the landscape and in the artistic process of representing it. He understands how paint can convey the poetry of suggestion and is absorbed in the infinite possibilities of the medium. Some of his images are almost abstract, others quite clearly representational, produced from intense scrutiny of details in the landscape and vistas. He is an artist who dreams as he sees and concentrates deeply as he paints, enabling others who view his work to be transported in a similar way. The images are positive, beautiful and lyrical, those of a precious environment to be nurtured and celebrated.
Watch below as Calum talks us through his latest inspirations and settling into his new home in Italy:
