Cover star
Arran artist Fiona Rutherford’s work features on the cover of a first edition book by Machrie author Hilary Patrick. The book, entitled Mental Health, Incapacity and the Law in Scotland, features the artwork which, according to Hilary, perfectly reflects the book’s content.
Work by a member of Arran’s Art in Mind project now decorates the cover of a new book.
The work, by Arran artist Fiona Rutherford, was chosen by author Hilary Patrick, who wrote much of the first edition of Mental Health, Incapacity and the Law in Scotland, at her home in Auchencar, Machrie.
Ms Patrick, now retired, was an Honorary Fellow in the School of Law at Edinburgh University. Her book has been widely well received. She said: ‘I worked for many years looking at mental health and legal issues and this book, first published in 2006, looks at the many ways in which having a mental illness or a learning disability may affect a person’s legal rights. When Professor Jill Stavert of Edinburgh Napier University came to update the book, we were keen to see if we could use some artwork from Arran to illustrate it. Arran was a great place to write the first edition. In those days, WiFi was not so available and I have happy memories of lengthy coffees in the Catacol Bay Hotel as I emailed chapters to my publisher.
‘I am so pleased we contacted Art in Mind. It is such a lively and life-affirming project and the artwork it produces is so vibrant. There were many lovely pieces we could have chosen and from the two finalists, Nigel Hunter and Fiona Rutherford, we finally agreed Fiona’s work reflected the positive message of the book, with its emphasis on information and empowerment.’
Art in Mind is a registered charity and part of Arran Visual Arts. The group meets in Brodick Ranger Centre every Friday throughout the year and aims to introduce people with mental health/social isolation problems to art and self-expression to help them gain confidence.
Professional artist Felicity Walker comes over from the mainland every week to teach and support members. There is a relaxed, friendly and sometimes industrious atmosphere, not to mention frequent doses of laughter.
On Friday February 16, Ms Patrick handed over a copy of the book to Fiona, with another copy for the group.
Sarah Hay, one of the group’s organisers, said: ‘People referred through the community mental health team are welcome to come to Art in Mind. People can feel ill, low, scared and alone but on making what can often be a real effort to come to the group, many people feel come away feeling they’ve achieved something that day and that maybe they’re not so alone. So, if you feel anxious, apprehensive or unhappy when you’re referred, I hope you will be encouraged to come along.
She added: ‘Art in Mind will be donating our copy of the book to Morag McClurg of AIMS Advocacy, based in Saltcoats, as Morag and her staff have been so helpful in liaison with other similar groups on the mainland.’