Artist tracks lives of children in works

A Moray artist has unveiled an exhibition documenting the lives of some of the first teenagers of the new millennium.

Karen Curran, who lives in Fochabers, started her Child of the New Century project to coincide with the 2018 Year of Young People.

It follows the lives of several children and shows the highs and lows in their lives as they developed into adults.

Brightly coloured costumes and headgear made appearances in the youngsters’ early years but, as time goes on, the piece begins to look at

“Portraiture has been a constant theme within my work”

how the “consequences of the unexpected” can affect them as they grow up.

The exhibition is on at Duff House in Banff.

Ms Curran said: “Portraiture has been a constant theme within my work, through the exploration of icon ography, photography and painting.

“My interest lies in facial expression and how, in the case of younger children, it is an important part of their nonverbal communication, used to convey their emotional state.”

Child of the New Century is not the first exhibition laid on by the artist.

Ms Curran has been painting since 1995 when she was commissioned to paint an icon of the Virgin Mary for a friend living in the Basque Country.

“Any sales revenue I gain from this exhibition will be donated to the children at The Royal Hospital for Sick Children in Edinburgh,” she added.

Child of the New Century is on display at Duff House from 11am to 4pm daily until December 31.