Lockdown art project
A creative dad and daughter have told how their lockdown art project has grown into a full-time business as they launch their first solo exhibition in Lanarkshire.
David and Natalie Bonner are the artists behind Jackton Art whose stunning digitally coloured pen and pencil drawings of Scottish landmarks are now on display at Chatelherault Country Park in Hamilton.
What started out as a fun family project to pass the time at home amid the Covid pandemic is now a burgeoning business with commissions coming in from America.
David, 50, said: “I’m not a trained artist. Jackton Art was a lockdown project that has now become my full-time business. My career has been in software businesses and Natalie studies interior design at City of Glasgow College. The business started when I was thinking about what to give my parents for their 50th wedding anniversary. Natalie and I were drawing a bit during lockdown and I decided to draw the church where they were married.
“The reaction was fantastic - ‘You drew this? No way!’ - and so Jackton Art was born.”
David creates highly-detailed pen and pencil drawings of Scottish places, while 19-year-old Natalie, the digital artist, adds coloured backgrounds and effects to give the work a contemporary feel.
Their work, which includes The Kelpies, New Lanark World Heritage Site, Hampden Park and even Hogwarts, is currently on display at the duo’s first solo exhibition in Chatelherault Country Park visitor centre until the end of March.
David added: “Scotland is full of amazing places. These buildings and places trigger memories and emotions and our aim is for this to come across in the art we make.
“We don’t choose where to draw, people commission us to draw places that mean a lot to them and we make high quality prints available for others to enjoy.
“It’s not about our story, it’s about your story and your connection to places that mean the most to you. There is a story behind every drawing of Scotland we do.”
The talented duo are now in high demand with their eye-catching artwork of Inveraray Castle landing an exciting commission overseas.
A Texan author, whose novels are set in a Scottish castle, wants Jackton Art to design the covers for her next series of books. And the pair are currently working on a commission for a Hamilton resident to produce a single piece of art that incorporates Chatelherault, Hamilton Mausoleum and Hamilton Town Hall.
David added: “It’s amazing the things we are now getting involved in. This will be our first piece of art that includes multiple subjects so we are enjoying the process of working on this.”
Jackton Art will also be exhibiting at Scotland’s Trade Fair in the SEC later this month to find wholesalers with interest in taking their work into shops and galleries.
Natalie said: “It’s been fun working on Jackton Art, learning how to start and grow a business. I’m learning new skills that I can use in my interior design studies.
She quipped: “Working with my dad isn’t as annoying as you think it would be, and you always get paid on time!”
All drawings on display at the Hamilton exhibition are available for sale including: Chatelherault Country Park, New Lanark World Heritage Site, Motherwell FC Fir Park, Hampden Park, V&A Dundee, The Forth Bridges, The Kelpies, Portpatrick Harbour, University of Glasgow, The Cuillin Ridge on Skye, Ibrox Stadium, Kelvingrove Art Gallery & Museum, Celtic FC, Edinburgh Arthur’s Seat, St. Andrews West Sands, The National Wallace Monument, Murrayfield stadium and Hogwarts.