David Palmer on Mrs Osborns's Shopping Spree

Our David Palmer etchings have been featured on the Mrs Osborn's Shopping Spree blog. It's the second time we've been featured on this blog, which champions British designers, makers, shops and galleries.

CHARLES OPPENHEIMER: From Craftsman To Artist

I have just added this newly published book about Charles Oppenheimer RSA RSW 1875-1961 to our online shop. 

Author Euan Robson was a member of the Scottish Parliament for eight years. He studied history at University, and has long had a fascination for the life and work of Scottish artists. His earlier book, George Houston - Nature Limner was particularly well received.

The book is illustrated with colour photographs throughout. I'm sure it will be very popular with our customers. Charles Oppenheimer is always one of the most admired artists in our August exhibition.

Looking forward to August

August is going to be a busy month for us. On Saturday 4 August we have the opening of our Galloway Paintings exhibition. We'll be showing work by Charles Oppenheimer RSA RSW 1875-1961, William Hanna Clarke 1882-1924 and James Paterson 1854-1932, to name only a few.

Alongside the paintings we'll be showing the slipware ceramics of Paul Young. His work, which is firmly rooted in the long tradition of English Slipware, is going to look stunning with our 19th and 20th century paintings.

We will also be welcoming author Euan Robson to the gallery on the same day. He will be signing copies of his new book, CHARLES OPPENHEIMER: From Craftman To Artist. Euan will be available to chat to visitors about writing this fascinating book on a much loved Galloway artist.

As it's summer we'll be serving Pimms at the opening, which is from 11am to 1pm.

See you there!

Rain, Rain

Rain Rain , Go To Spain ...

I rushed out to my garden before work this morning. I could see a huge rain storm coming over the loch and I knew it would obliterate the last of the peonies if I didn't go out and save them. I got quite a few other flowers too.

 Blue Iris, which look stunning with this Paul Young bowl and Sue Binns jugs.

 My favourite scented peonies.

Cheerful pink daisies next to a Jonathan Chiswell Jones Autumn leaves vase.

 

Yellow lilies brighten up the fireplace beneath this Helen Turner  PPAI PAI  of Loch Ken and delicate bird paintings by Claire Harkess RSW.

John Douglas Piper Drypoint Etchings

New to the gallery, beautiful, delicate, drypoint etchings by John Douglas Piper. I have added seven of his etchings to our online shop. They are unframed and start at just £45. I think they would make a lovely gift.

Greetings From Italy

The beautiful garden at Villa La Pietra,  New York University, Florence

My holiday in Lucca is sadly coming to an end. I have had a wonderful week with some wonderful friends.

Today I was lucky enough to visit the foundry in Pietrasanta where Richard W Boardman's bronze sculpture is cast.

Richard brought a new sculpture to be cast - a duck named Quickquack. This is Ivo, the foundry owner taking down all the details.

Measuring the height from beak to table so that Quickquack can be finished at the correct angle when the feet are welded to the body.

And here we all are, Richard, Quickquack, Pietro, me and Ivo.

I got a great tour of the foundry and saw the casting process from start to finish. Ivo and Pietro are incredible artisans.

After that we took a trip to the coast and Forte dei Marmi where even the pavements are made of marble. The strange weather that's crossing Europe at the moment had made the sea unusually choppy, with huge waves crashing up the beach. This is Patrice and me standing on the pier.

What else did I get up to? Lots of things including...

Shopping in Florence (this is at the famous Farmacia Santa Maria Novella).

And falling in love with Italian cars!

COUCH

This evening I went to see Alice Francis's brilliant 'Couch' - a Galloway cottage covered in Plums stretchy fabric.

The cottage is right next to Doach woods; I've been going for walks there since I was little, so the cottage is really familiar to me. How the whole place has changed for the four days of Spring Fling. There was quite a crowd of people and a lovely buzz about the place, with children excitedly running round and round the cottage and lots of people sitting on the grass chatting. The building looks smaller now it has been cosily wrapped in flowery fabric.

You've only got tomorrow to see it and I would highly recommend a visit.