Art school’s landscape is ready to change
Duo’s new base will have more space to expand classes
A Balfron–based art school is to move its operation to a site near Killearn.
art4you will gather up its paint brushes and easels this month as it moves to a new home in the grounds of the Oakwood Garden Centre.
Set up by Glasgow School of Art fine art graduate Ewen Duncan and his wife Claudia just under ten years ago, art4you started as an evening class in a local school before expanding to offer regular art classes at Ballochruin Farm near Balfron Station in 2011.
Now, the couple are preparing art4you’s latest canvas at Oakwood which will double their studio space allowing for a range of new classes and will create a permanent gallery to exhibit students’ work as well as pieces by established artists.
The new studio will allow for the addition of new classes, including ceramic, pottery and printmaking.
art4you Scotland co-founder, Ewen Duncan, said: “We’ve had an amazing few years at Ballochruin Farm and have seen many students discover their talent and embrace creativity.
“We’re bursting at the seams though, and being able to move to our new home at Oakwood will mean we’ll be able to do so much more: extra space, better light and more classes. There’s a new kiln going in which will be wonderful to be able to offer pottery and ceramic tuition and we’ve now got room for a press which means we can do printing work too.
“We’ll have permanent exhibition space as well which is incredibly exciting – being able to really show off what the students are doing, as well as guest artists. The key to what we’re doing is that art and the creative process should be fun. People wouldn’t come back if they didn’t enjoy what we do and people come back time and time again.
“Whatever the level of experience, we welcome everyone as we believe that we are all creative and can all make art.”
The teaching team is led by Ewen who followed up his painting and print making training at Glasgow School of Art with post-graduate studies in New York and subsequently worked in TV and film set design.
art4you’s new home at Oakwood will open with a free exhibition of work by former and current students as well as tutors and local artists.
All items will be available
Lakeland are celebrating the opening of their new Christmas shop at Lakeland in Stirling by giving Stirling Observer readers the chance to win a £200 gift card.
The Lakeland store next to Dobbies Garden World at Craigforth, Stirling, already features an extraordinary collection of kitchen and homewares.
With an excellent range of quality products – everything you need for Christmas gifts, cooking, baking, cleaning or doing your laundry – there is something for everyone in Lakeland stores. The group was founded in 1956.
The store also features daily demos on a variety of products and staff are happy to let customers“have a go”of products before deciding to buy.
And you can shop with confidence thanks to Lakeland’s three-year guarantee of every product purchased.
To add to the offering, the Christmas shop launches on Monday, October 8, and one lucky winner will receive not only the £200 gift card to spend at the Lakeland store, they will get the chance to help a good cause.
Lakeland will match this amount by donating £200 to a local charity of the for sale and the exhibition will be open from 10am to 4pm on Saturday October 20 and Sunday October 21.
Classes commence at the new studio in the week beginning 29 October.
Competition
To enter, simply fill in this entry coupon and post it to: Lakeland Gift Card Competition, Stirling Observer, 34 Upper Craigs, Stirling, FK8 2DW.
Or why not TRIPLE your chances and pop into Lakeland Stirling with your Stirling Observer coupon, where an extra two free entries will also be added to the draw. Closing date for entries is Friday, October 12, at 5pm.
Terms and conditions apply. Please see our website for details.
If you spend £10 in store between now and Sunday, October 7, you will receive a £5 voucher to spend between October 8-31 (conditions apply).