Respected European artist leads inspiring workshop
Artists from across the UK gathered in Ballachulish during the weekend of October 30/31 for a masterclass led by respected European artist Peter Monaghan.
The residential workshop, entitled Loosening the Line, challenged each of the eight participants to drop established styles and ‘explore a bit of wildness’. The west highland location on a blowy weekend was certainly encouraging for this.
Peter has studios in West Ireland and Germany and his inspirational teaching style makes him a much sought-after instructor.
Event organiser Morag Young of Woodlands Glencoe said: ‘We’ve been working on attracting Peter Monaghan here for three years and the workshop exceeded all our expectations. He’s such a relaxed, warm and skilful teacher and over the weekend, the delegates created brilliant work.’
Morag runs her business The Art Circle from studios on the Woodlands estate and each of the residential delegates stayed in one of the RiverBeds Luxury Lodges complete with hot tubs.
Penny Lordan, an artist from York, commented: ‘After a day out sketching in the rain, it was wonderful to sink into the hot waters of a jacuzzi. The autumn colours were amazing, but that blue, bubbling water seemed even better.’
The Art Circle plans to hold three workshops a year in Lochaber and will continue to draw world-class tutors to run them, attracting local, Scottish and UK artists.
Morag Young is currently finalising paintings for her next exhibition to be staged at the Dundas Gallery, Edinburgh, from November 18-27.