Teenagerimpressesatexhibition
A young artist has stolen the limelight at a Perthshire art exhibition, selling his work among older and more experienced artists despite only just turning 13.
Magnus Ibbetson has sold three pictures so far at the Dunkeld Cathedral Art Exhibition and he has given organisers another four outstanding landscapes to hang.
In all, the shorter than usual exhibition in the Duchess Anne hall in Dunkeld has seen over 70 pieces of high quality pieces of work sold, but the home schooled teen has been holding his own.
Magnus has liked painting since he was a toddler, but his parents John and Kushla Ibbetson told the PA he only started taking it seriously a few years ago when he asked his parents to start buying him canvases, better brushes, paint and equipment.
“Since then he has had long bursts of very productive painting, with breaks of a few weeks where he doesn’t paint anything,” explained his father.
Magnus paints etherial craggy mountains with pinpoint detail. His granny, who lives near Dunkeld, suggested he enter his work at the local exhibition.
Magnus’s fascination with the mountains of the Black Cuillin in Skye began after his father took him on a winter trip into Spar Cave near Elgol a few years ago.
He also likes the scenery of Glen Coe and Wester Ross.
John said: “I took him up Stac Pollaidh when he was three and he has been interested in landscapes and mountains ever since.
“He and his younger brother Austin are both home educated (for the last three years), so he has more time to concentrate on his studies and painting.
“Before that at school, his art teacher was always telling him he was doing his paintings ‘wrong’, which I think is hilarious.
“Art is what it is; I don’t think it can be ‘right’ or ‘wrong’.
“We are proud he paints so well, and that his paintings have been so well received, but we try not to give him a big head,” added dad.
“He still has a lot to learn and has to leave time for his studies.”
About half of the paintings are based on photographs while the other half of his paintings are made up landscapes from his imagination.
Margaret Scott, organiser of the Dunkeld Cathedral Art Exhibition, said: “Our exhibition follows a similar format every year, but the addition of young Magnus, well here is something a bit different.
“Young people don’t always get a good mention in the press but we all know there are lots of them around, living their lives well.”
There are lots of high quality pictures on show at the Dunkeld exhibition which is open every day from 10am-4pm and Sundays 12pm-4pm. Any enquiries to Dunkeldart@aol.com