Talented Lily aiming to create career as an artist

This year is Scotland’s Year of Young People, aiming to give those aged between eight and 26 a stronger voice on the issues that affect their lives as well as showcasing their ideas and talents.

To support this Angusalive – Angus’s culture, sport and leisure trust – has helped a 19-year-old artist to present her debut exhibition at Brechin Town House Museum.

Lily Garget, who lives near to Brechin, originally approached the museum in the hope of exhibiting her artwork and developing the skills required to mount a show. Working closely with visual arts officer Gill Ross, Out of the Everywhere Into Here opened at the end of January.

As well as studying art in school, Lily has been shortlisted twice for the John Byrne Art Award for creative young people in Scotland. She is now in the process of applying to art school.

Lily works with embroidery, which is traditionally considered a delicate skill practised by women. She aims to reinvent its use, focusing on societal as well as personal topics.

She explains: “I think I am more attracted to the medium and its old connotations because you can make work that people don’t expect to see portrayed through thread.”

Lily is pleased to have developed new skills, from learning how to frame work to getting to grips with contracts and forms. “I really feel as though this experience has helped me develop as a young artist,” she goes on.

Gill Ross says: “It has been a pleasure to work with Lily, she has a clear vision and creative voice as well as a dedicated and professional approach. This is the first time I have worked to set up an exhibition with an artist so early in their career and it’s good for us to try something new.”

Lily adds: “I only started embroidering this time last year and when I started it was really for myself. I was telling a story through my work and expressing myself. Thanks to the exhibition I have learned how much I enjoy connecting and communicating with people through art.”

Lily’s exhibition will run until Saturday March 10.

Picture: Kim Cessford. Top: Lily Garget beside some of her work which is being exhibited at Brechin Townhouse Museum. Above: Lily’s selfportrait.