The Gallery has a broad spectrum of artwork in house which changes on a regular basis to ensure that we keep the gallery fresh and exciting. Here are some of the fantastic, inspiring highlights to share with you this week: we have a new group of jewellery by Malcolm Appleby which includes his highly sought-after Walk in the Woods bracelets. After a sell-out show with Baba Tree Baskets in January, please explore the latest hand-woven collection from Ghana. It has been two years since we last received a group from the great British studio potter Clive Bowen – gallery visitors can view his new group online and in person – we have had great fun using his jugs to create tulip displays in The Gallery! We have also received several oak swills by Owen Jones and a group of new ceramics by Miyu Kurihara including moon jars, hexagon vases and her extremely popular single flower vases. Last but not least, we have several iconic ringsets by Modern Master Wendy Ramshaw (1939-2018).
Malcolm Appleby
Malcolm Appleby was born in 1946. He studied at Central School of Art, Sir John Cass and the Royal College of Art in London before establishing his studio in Scotland in 1969. A silversmith and metal engraver, known for his imaginative use of line and form, he considers gold ‘just another lovely material to work with.’
Malcolm was recently awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award by the Goldsmiths’ Company in London.
The Baba Tree Basket Company
The Baba Tree Basket Company in Ghana have been preserving the craft of basket-weaving from the Gurunsi community in Bolgatanga for the last 15 years. Over 250 artisans practise the time-honoured handweaving technique using elephant grass. Each basket comes directly from the hands of the artisan weavers, meaning each is unique. We first showed work by The Baba Tree Basket Company in January of this year, and the show was a huge success with every piece being sold!
You can view available work by The Baba Tree Basket Company here.
Clive Bowen
Clive Bowen studied painting and etching at Cardiff Art School before taking up an apprenticeship with Michael Leach at Yelland Pottery in North Devon from 1965 until 1969. In 1971 he bought a small agricultural property at Shebbear, near Holsworthy in North Devon and set up a workshop in the former farm outhouses. His pots are made in the local Fremington clay, a red earthenware clay in use for centuries for traditional North Devon wares. They are almost all wheel thrown with the exception of a few hand-pressed dishes.
Owen Jones
Owen Jones MBE lives and works in Cumbria and has been making traditional oak swills and baskets since 1988.
Owen JonesI was taught to make swills in 1988 by a retired ‘Swiller’ from Broughton-in-Furness, called John Barker. John had served his time in a 1930’s swill shop and when I met him he was one of the last swillers from that generation who were still making them. Now there is no one left alive from that era and I feel very privileged to have been taught by John, to have learnt from within the tradition and to now continue a local trade which has remained largely unchanged for centuries
Miyu Kurihara
Miyu Kurihara is a Japanese artist who makes hand-painted ceramics. Miyu draws upon her heritage when creating her ceramic pieces; inspired by both Japanese kimono design and traditional Asian ceramics. All pieces are made by hand and individually drawn with intricate detail. Having learned brush techniques and textile design in Japan and London, she incorporates these skills into her work and uses traditional blue and white porcelain processes that originate in China and Japan.
Wendy Ramshaw
Wendy Ramshaw, CBE, RDI, was an international champion of modern jewellery. Her signature ringsets are represented in over 70 public collections worldwide. Ramshaw’s work also encompassed designs for textiles, screens, gateways and sculpture. The Scottish Gallery has exhibited some of her most ambitious ideas through exhibitions such as Picasso’s Ladies (1989), Rooms of Dreams (2002), Prospero’s Table (2004) and a Journey Through Glass (2007). Exhibitions such as Room of Dreams, which was designed and created as a theatrical stage set for the jewellery, have become embedded not only in Ramshaw’s spectacular career but also illustrate the commitment by The Gallery to truly original ideas.
Wendy Ramshaw passed away on the 9th December 2018. She was one of The Scottish Gallery’s favourite contemporary jewellers and will be missed. We continue to work with Wendy’s estate and are delighted to welcome a selection of ringsets and single rings new to The Gallery this month.
Gallery visitors can view new work both online and in person – if you have any questions about our artists or their work, please don’t hesitate to get in touch!
