New Perth exhibition at RSGS to focus on nature and landscapes

A new nature and landscape exhibition will go on display in Perth today featuring well known artists and rising Scottish talent.

The Royal Scottish Geographical Society’s (RSGS) exhibit at the Fair Maid’s House will showcase the work of Guardian cartoonist Nick Hayes, Perth artist Claire Hawkes and up-and-coming Annie Armstrong.

Claire’s watercolours of elks, birds and landscapes has seen her feature on television show Landward as well as take up a residency at Edinburgh Zoo.

She said: “Spanning time and continents, this collection of paintings brings together work inspired by my travels over the past 20 years.

“I feel very lucky and privileged to have the job I do: exploring and documenting the natural world in paint.

“Nestled alongside historical maps and journals and today’s inspiring explorers, scientists and thinkers, the RSGS feels a natural home for these paintings.”

Annie Armstrong, 24, from Braemar, draws on her background in zoology and conservation biology for her artwork.

She said: “I want to use the language of painting to talk about the environment and conservation.

“Most of my works in the exhibition reflect on my time spent on a reserve in South Africa and some of the destruction I became aware of while there.”

The exhibition opens today from 11am to 4.30pm and will be on display Thursday to Saturday from 1pm to 4.30pm.

The exhibition will run until October 26 with all works hanging in the gallery on sale to support RSGS.